NuMI Neutrino Research Articles

Search for Heavy Neutral Leptons in Electron-Positron and Neutral-Pion Final States with the MicroBooNE Detector

We present the first search for heavy neutral leptons (HNLs) decaying into νe+e− or νπ0 final states in a liquid-argon time projection chamber using data collected with the MicroBooNE detector. The data were recorded synchronously with the NuMI neutrino beam from Fermilab’s main injector corresponding to a total exposure of 7.01×1020 protons on target. We set upper limits at the 90% confidence level on the mixing parameter |Uμ4|2 in the mass ranges 10≤mHNL≤150 MeV for the νe+e− channel and 150≤mHNL≤245 MeV for the νπ0 channel, assuming |Ue4|2=|Uτ4|2=0. These limits represent the most stringent constraints in the mass range 35<mHNL<175 MeV and the first constraints from a direct search for νπ0 decays. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

A commentary on the NIM A article by K. Abe et al. on the T2K Experiment and on the NIM A article by P. Adamson et al. on the NuMI Neutrino Beam

A commentary on the NIM A article by K. Abe et al. on the T2K Experiment and on the NIM A article by P. Adamson et al. on the NuMI Neutrino Beam

First Constraints on Heavy QCD Axions with a Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber Using the ArgoNeuT Experiment.

We present the results of a search for heavy QCD axions performed by the ArgoNeuT experiment at Fermilab. We search for heavy axions produced in the NuMI neutrino beam target and absorber decaying into dimuon pairs, which can be identified using the unique capabilities of ArgoNeuT and the MINOS near detector. This decay channel is motivated by a broad class of heavy QCD axion models that address the strong CP and axion quality problems with axion masses above the dimuon threshold. We obtain new constraints at a 95% confidence level for heavy axions in the previously unexplored mass range of 0.2-0.9GeV, for axion decay constants around tens of TeV.

Improved constraint on the MINERνA medium energy neutrino flux using ν¯e−→ν¯e− data

Processes with precisely known cross sections, like neutrino electron elastic scattering ($\nu e^{-} \!\rightarrow \nu e^{-}$) and inverse muon decay ($\nu_\mu e^{-} \!\rightarrow \mu^{-} \nu_e$) have been used by MINERvA to constrain the uncertainty on the NuMI neutrino beam flux. This work presents a new measurement of neutrino elastic scattering with electrons using the medium energy \numubar enhanced NuMI beam. A sample of 578 events after background subtraction is used in combination with the previous measurement on the \numu beam and the inverse muon decay measurement to reduce the uncertainty on the \numu flux in the \numu-enhanced beam from 7.6\% to 3.3\% and the \numubar flux in the \numubar-enhanced beam from 7.8\% to 4.7\%.

Rock neutron backgrounds from FNAL neutrino beamlines in the νBDX−DRIFT detector

The $\ensuremath{\nu}\mathrm{BDX}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{DRIFT}$ Collaboration seeks to detect low-energy nuclear recoils from $\mathrm{CE}\ensuremath{\nu}\mathrm{NS}$ or BSM interactions at FNAL. Backgrounds due to rock neutrons are an important concern. We present a genie and geant4 based model to estimate backgrounds from rock neutrons produced in neutrino-nucleus interactions within the rock walls surrounding the underground halls. This model was bench-marked against the 2009 COUPP experiment performed in the MINOS hall in the NuMI neutrino beam, and agreement is found between experimental results and the modeled result to within 30%. Working from this validated model, a similar two-stage simulation was performed to estimate recoil backgrounds in the $\ensuremath{\nu}\mathrm{BDX}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{DRIFT}$ detector across several beamlines. In the first stage utilizing geant4, neutrons were tallied exiting the walls of a rectangular underground hall utilizing four different neutrino beam configurations. These results are presented for use by other underground experiments requiring estimations of their rock neutron backgrounds. For $\ensuremath{\nu}\mathrm{BDX}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{DRIFT}$, the second stage propagated neutrons from the walls and recorded energy deposited within a scintillator veto surrounding the detector and nuclear recoils within the detector's fiducial volume. The directional signal from the $\ensuremath{\nu}\mathrm{BDX}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{DRIFT}$ detector allows additional background subtraction. A sample calculation of a $10\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{m}}^{3}\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}\mathrm{yr}$ exposure to the NuMI low-energy beam configuration shows a $\mathrm{CE}\ensuremath{\nu}\mathrm{NS}$ signal-to-noise ratio of $\ensuremath{\sim}2.5$.

Search for long-lived heavy neutral leptons and Higgs portal scalars decaying in the MicroBooNE detector

We present a search for long-lived Higgs portal scalars (HPS) and heavy neutral leptons (HNL) decaying in the MicroBooNE liquid-argon time projection chamber. The measurement is performed using data collected synchronously with the NuMI neutrino beam from Fermilab's Main Injector with a total exposure corresponding to $7.01 \times 10^{20}$ protons on target. We set upper limits at the $90\%$ confidence level on the mixing parameter $\lvert U_{\mu 4}\rvert^2$ ranging from $\lvert U_{\mu 4}\rvert^2<12.9\times 10^{-8}$ for Majorana HNLs with a mass of $m_{\rm HNL}=246$ MeV to $\lvert U_{\mu 4}\rvert^2<0.92 \times 10^{-8}$ for $m_{\rm HNL}=385$ MeV, assuming $\lvert U_{e 4}\rvert^2 = \lvert U_{\tau 4}\rvert^2 = 0$ and HNL decays into $\mu^\pm\pi^\mp$ pairs. These limits on $\lvert U_{\mu 4}\rvert^2$ represent an order of magnitude improvement in sensitivity compared to the previous MicroBooNE result. We also constrain the scalar-Higgs mixing angle $\theta$ by searching for HPS decays into $\mu^+\mu^-$ final states, excluding a contour in the parameter space with lower bounds of $\theta^2<31.3 \times 10^{-9}$ for $m_{\rm HPS}=212$ GeV and $\theta^2<1.09 \times 10^{-9}$ for $m_{\rm HPS}=275$ GeV. These are the first constraints on the scalar-Higgs mixing angle $\theta$ from a dedicated experimental search in this mass range.

Physics with NOvA: a half-time review

The NOvA experiment has been collecting data in the NuMI neutrino beam since 2014. In this article we describe the rich physics program of the experiment, including long-baseline oscillation measurements, neutrino cross-section measurements, searches for phenomena beyond the standard three flavor oscillation paradigm, as well as astrophysical searches. Only half way through its expected run plan, NOvA will continue to explore exciting physics topics through 2026 and beyond.

Constraining the NuMI neutrino flux using inverse muon decay reactions in MINERvA

Inverse muon decay, $\nu_\mu e^-\to\mu^-\nu_e$, is a reaction whose cross-section can be predicted with very small uncertainties. It has a neutrino energy threshold of $\approx 11$ GeV and can be used to constrain the high-energy part of the flux in the NuMI neutrino beam. This reaction is the dominant source of events which only contain high-energy muons nearly parallel to the direction of the neutrino beam. We have isolated a sample of hundreds of such events in neutrino and anti-neutrino enhanced beams, and have constrained the predicted high-energy flux.

Search for a Higgs Portal Scalar Decaying to Electron-Positron Pairs in the MicroBooNE Detector.

We present a search for the decays of a neutral scalar boson produced by kaons decaying at rest, in the context of the Higgs portal model, using the MicroBooNE detector. We analyze data triggered in time with the Fermilab NuMI neutrino beam spill, with an exposure of 1.93×10^{20} protons on target. We look for monoenergetic scalars that come from the direction of the NuMI hadron absorber, at a distance of 100m from the detector, and decay to electron-positron pairs. We observe one candidate event, with a standard model background prediction of 1.9±0.8. We set an upper limit on the scalar-Higgs mixing angle of θ<(3.3-4.6)×10^{-4} at the 95%confidence level for scalar boson masses in the range (100-200) MeV/c^{2}. We exclude, at the 95% confidence level, the remaining model parameters required to explain the central value of a possible excess of K_{L}^{0}→π^{0}νν[over ¯] decays reported by the KOTO collaboration. We also provide a model-independent limit on a new boson X produced in K→πX decays and decaying to e^{+}e^{-}.

New Constraints on Tau-Coupled Heavy Neutral Leptons with Masses mN=280–970 MeV

A search for Heavy Neutral Leptons has been performed with the ArgoNeuT detector exposed to the NuMI neutrino beam at Fermilab. We search for the decay signature $N \to \nu \mu^+ \mu^-$, considering decays occurring both inside ArgoNeuT and in the upstream cavern. In the data, corresponding to an exposure to $1.25 \times 10^{20}$ POT, zero passing events are observed consistent with the expected background. This measurement leads to a new constraint at 90\% confidence level on the mixing angle $\left\vert U_{\tau N}\right\rvert^2$ of tau-coupled Dirac Heavy Neutral Leptons with masses $m_N =$ 280 - 970 MeV, assuming $\left\vert U_{eN}\right\rvert^2 = \left\vert U_{\mu N}\right\rvert^2 = 0$.

First measurement of neutrino oscillation parameters using neutrinos and antineutrinos by NOvA.

The NOvA experiment has seen a 4.4σ signal of ν[over ¯]_{e} appearance in a 2GeV ν[over ¯]_{μ} beam at a distance of 810km. Using 12.33×10^{20} protons on target delivered to the Fermilab NuMI neutrino beamline, the experiment recorded 27 ν[over ¯]_{μ}→ν[over ¯]_{e} candidates with a background of 10.3 and 102 ν[over ¯]_{μ}→ν[over ¯]_{μ} candidates. This new antineutrino data are combined with neutrino data to measure the parameters |Δm_{32}^{2}|=2.48_{-0.06}^{+0.11}×10^{-3} eV^{2}/c^{4} and sin^{2}θ_{23} in the ranges from (0.53-0.60) and (0.45-0.48) in the normal neutrino mass hierarchy. The data exclude most values near δ_{CP}=π/2 for the inverted mass hierarchy by more than 3σ and favor the normal neutrino mass hierarchy by 1.9σ and θ_{23} values in the upper octant by 1.6σ.

Millicharged particles in liquid argon neutrino experiments

We investigate the potential of Liquid Argon (LAr) neutrino detectors to search for millicharged particles, a well-motivated extension of the standard model. Detectors located downstream of an intense proton beam that is striking a target may be exposed to a large flux of millicharged particles. Millicharged particles interact primarily through low momentum exchange producing electron recoil events near detector threshold. Recently, sub-MeV detection capabilities were demonstrated by the Fermilab ArgoNeuT detector, a small LAr detector which was exposed to the NuMI neutrino beam. Despite high background rates and its small size, we show that ArgoNeuT is capable of probing unexplored parameter space with its existing dataset. In particular, we show that the excellent spatial resolution in LAr detectors allows rejecting backgrounds by requiring two soft hits that are aligned with the upstream target. We further discuss the prospects of these types of searches in future larger LAr neutrino detectors such as the DUNE near detector.

Measurements and calculations of air activation in the NuMI neutrino production facility at Fermilab with the 120-GeV proton beam on target

Measurements and calculations of the air activation at a high-energy proton accelerator are described. The quantity of radionuclides released outdoors depends on operation scenarios including details of the air exchange inside the facility. To improve the prediction of the air activation levels, the MARS15 Monte Carlo code radionuclide production model was modified to be used for these studies. Measurements were done to benchmark the new model and verify its use in optimization studies for the new DUNE experiment at the Long Baseline Neutrino Facility (LBNF) at Fermilab. The measured production rates for the most important radionuclides - $^{11}$C, $^{13}$N, $^{15}$O and $^{41}$Ar - are in a good agreement with those calculated with the improved MARS15 code.

A search for sterile neutrinos at the NOvA Far Detector

NOvA is the current United States flagship long-baseline neutrino experiment designed to study the properties of neutrino oscillations. It consists of two functionally identical detectors each located 14.6 mrad off the central axis from the Fermilab NuMI neutrino beam. The Near Detector is located 1 km downstream from the beam source, and the Far Detector is located 810 km away in Ash River, Minnesota. This long baseline, combined with the ability of the NuMI facility to switch between nearly pure neutrino and anti-neutrino beams, allows NOvA to make precision measurements of neutrino mixing angles, potentially determine the neutrino mass hierarchy, and begin searching for CP violating effects in the lepton sector. However, NOvA can also probe more exotic scenarios, such as oscillations between the known active neutrinos and new sterile species. We will showcase the first search for sterile neutrinos in a 3 + 1 model at NOvA. The analysis presented searches for a deficit in the rate of neutral current events at the Far Detector using the Near Detector to constrain the predicted spectrum. This analysis was performed using data taken between February 2014 and May 2016 corresponding to 6.05 × 1020 protons on target.

Search for muon antineutrino disappearance due to sterile antineutrino oscillations with the MINOS experiment

Three-flavour neutrino mixing has successfully explained a wide range of neutrino oscillation data. However, results such as the electron antineutrino appearance excesses seen by LSND and MiniBooNE can be explained in terms of neutrino oscillations adding a sterile neutrino at a larger mass scale than the existing three flavour mass states. MINOS is a two-detector, long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment that uses magnetized tracker-calorimeter detectors to measure the energy and composition of the NuMI neutrino beam. These magnetized detectors give MINOS a unique ability to be able to separate muon neutrino and antineutrino interactions. Using data taken with the NuMI beam configured in antineutrino mode, MINOS is able to search for sterile antineutrinos by looking for the disappearance of muon antineutrinos over its 734 km baseline. The sterile antineutrino signature would be seen as modulations at high energy in the charged-current muon antineutrino spectrum. We present the first MINOS results constraining 3+1 sterile antineutrino oscillations, using a combination of 3.36×1020 protons-on-target (POT) of antineutrino-enhanced beam data, and 10.56×1020 protons-on-target (POT) of neutrino-dominated beam data. These results are compared with existing constraints and future improvements to the searches are discussed.

Recent Results from MINERνA

The MINERνA collaboration is currently engaged in a broad program of neutrino-nucleus interaction measurements. Several recent measurements of interest to the accelerator-based oscillation community are presented. These include measurements of quasi-elastic scattering, diffractive pion production, kaon production and comparisons of interaction cross sections across nuclei. A new measurement of the NuMI neutrino beam flux that incorporates both external hadro-production data and MINERνA detector data is also presented.

Search for muon neutrino disappearance due to sterile neutrino oscillations with the MINOS/MINOS+ experiment

Three-flavour neutrino oscillations have successfully explained a wide range of neutrino oscillation data. However, anomalous results, such as the electron antineutrino appearance excesses seen by LSND and MiniBooNE, can be explained by the addition of a sterile neutrino at a larger mass scale than the existing three neutrino mass states. MINOS is a two-detector, long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment optimized to measure muon neutrino disappearance in the NuMI neutrino beam. MINOS+ is the continuation of the MINOS experiment with the NuMI beam in a medium energy configuration. In the model with one sterile neutrino flavor added to the three active neutrino flavors, a sterile neutrino causing electron antineutrino appearance at LSND and MiniBooNE would also cause muon neutrino disappearance at MINOS. The sterile neutrino signature would be seen as modulations at high energy in the charged-current muon neutrino spectrum and a depletion of events in the neutral current spectrum. These proceedings show new results from fitting neutral-current and charged-current energy spectra from MINOS and MINOS+ data to a neutrino oscillation model assuming one sterile neutrino.

Measurement of νμ and ν¯μ neutral current π0→γγ production in the ArgoNeuT detector

The ArgoNeuT collaboration reports the first measurement of neutral current $\pi^{0}$ production in $\nu_{\mu}$-argon and $\bar{\nu}_{\mu}$-argon scattering. This measurement was performed using the ArgoNeuT liquid argon time projection chamber deployed at Fermilab's NuMI neutrino beam with an exposure corresponding to 1.2$\times 10^{20}$ protons-on-target from the Fermilab Main Injector and a mean energy for $\nu_{\mu}$ of 9.6~GeV and for $\bar{\nu}_{\mu}$ of 3.6~GeV. We compare the measured cross section and kinematic distributions to predictions from the GENIE and NuWro neutrino interaction event generators.

Irradiation effects in beryllium exposed to high energy protons of the NuMI neutrino source

A beryllium primary vacuum-to-air beam ‘window’ of the "Neutrinos at the Main Injector" (NuMI) beamline at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab), Batavia, Illinois, USA, has been irradiated by 120 GeV protons over 7 years, with a maximum integrated fluence at the window centre of 2.06 1022 p/cm2 corresponding to a radiation damage level of 0.48 dpa. The proton beam is pulsed at 0.5 Hz leading to an instantaneous temperature rise of 40 °C per pulse. The window is cooled by natural convection and is estimated to operate at an average of around 50 °C. The microstructure of this irradiated material was investigated by SEM/EBSD and Atom Probe Tomography, and compared to that of unirradiated regions of the beam window and that of stock material of the same PF-60 grade.Microstructural investigations revealed a highly inhomogeneous distribution of impurity elements in both unirradiated and irradiated conditions. Impurities were mainly localised in precipitates, and as segregations at grain boundary and dislocation lines. Low levels of Fe, Cu, Ni, C and O were also found to be homogeneously distributed in the beryllium matrix. In the irradiated materials, up to 440 appm of Li, derived from transmutation of beryllium was homogeneously distributed in solution in the beryllium matrix.

First neutrino oscillation measurements in NOvA

The NOvA experiment uses the Fermilab NuMI neutrino beam and a newly constructed 14 kt detector to address several open questions in neutrino oscillations including the neutrino mass hierarchy, the precise value of the angle θ23, and the CP-violating phase δCP. The experiment has been running since 2014 and has recently released its first results from an equivalent exposure of 2.74×1020 protons-on-target equal to 8% of the eventual data set. Measurements of νμ→νμ oscillations find Δm322=(2.52−0.18+0.20)×10−3 eV2 and 0.38<sin2⁡θ23<0.65 for the normal neutrino mass hierarchy. The experiment has observed νμ→νe oscillations at 3.3 σ C.L. in this early data and disfavors the inverted neutrino mass hierarchy in the range 0.1π<δCP<0.5π at the 90% C.L.