Abstract
The two-detector design of the NOvA neutrino oscillation experiment, in which two functionally identical detectors are exposed to an intense neutrino beam, aids in canceling leading order effects of cross-section uncertainties. However, limited knowledge of neutrino interaction cross sections still gives rise to some of the largest systematic uncertainties in current oscillation measurements. We show contemporary models of neutrino interactions to be discrepant with data from NOvA, consistent with discrepancies seen in other experiments. Adjustments to neutrino interaction models in GENIE are presented, creating an effective model that improves agreement with our data. We also describe systematic uncertainties on these models, including uncertainties on multi-nucleon interactions from a newly developed procedure using NOvA near detector data.
Highlights
Long-baseline experiments generally utilize a two-detector design
Measurements are based on reconstructed neutrino energy spectra observed in the far detector (FD), which are compared to simulated predictions for various oscillation parameter values with systematic uncertainties taken into account
The near detector has at its downstream end a “muon catcher” composed of a stack of ten sets of planes in which a pair of one vertically oriented and one horizontally oriented scintillator plane is interleaved with one 10 cm-thick plane of steel
Summary
Measurements are based on reconstructed neutrino energy spectra observed in the FD, which are compared to simulated predictions for various oscillation parameter values with systematic uncertainties taken into account. ND data are used to adjust FD predictions and constrain systematic uncertainties, via either a simultaneous fit of ND and FD simulation to the respective data samples [8], or by using differences between ND data and simulation to adjust FD simulation [8,9] In either case, this process relies on simulation to account for oscillations and the differing beam flux and geometric acceptances between the detectors, making the ND constraint on the FD model-dependent. NOvA is a long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment, utilizing a 14 kton FD located 810 km downstream of the beam source and a functionally identical 0.3 kton ND located approximately 1 km from beam target.
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