Pion production contaminates kinematic

1

Oscillation Physics Motivation
Oscillation Physics Impact
The plot at right shows a case study of MINER?As
ability to improve the precision measurement of
Dm223 by reducing systematic uncertainties in the
neutrino energy reconstruction. With better
understanding of hadron production and
final-state interactions, MINOS can achieve a
sensitivity comparable to what it would have with
twice the planned number of protons on target
without MINERnA data.
Pion production contaminates kinematic
reconstruction of neutrino energy in K2K and
T2K, limiting precision measurements of ?m223 and
sin22?23. Cross-section uncertainties and
final-state interactions smear Evis?E?
calibration for MINOS and NO?A as well.
Oscillation changes the mixture of reaction types
between near and far detectors an
important source of systematic uncertainty.
The plot at left shows a case study of a search
for q13 with the proposed NO?A experiment.
Without better understanding of the backgrounds,
provided by MINER?A, the experiment will be
limited by systematics for values of q13 close to
the CHOOZ bound.
Existing Cross-Section Data
Hadronic/Nuclear Physics With MINERnA
Below World data on charged current coherent
pion production, with the prediction of the
Rein-Sehgal model. Available data do not cover
the range of nuclei used in modern detectors, and
in the few-GeV regime are limited to two
measurements with almost 100 errors. Even for
quasi-elastic scattering, experimental
uncertainties due to the nucleon form factor and
nuclear effects are relatively large.
Measurements of quasi-elastic neutrino scattering
in MINER?A will allow a precise measurement of
the axial form factor of the proton as a function
of Q2.
Above Existing data on charged current single
pion production with predictions from the Neugen
simulation. The data are characterized by small
statistical power, undocumented corrections for
nuclear effects, and uncertain absolute
normalization. The poor agreements between
different measurements reflects these problems.
Data on exclusive multi-pion and strange
particle production and neutral currents is
even more limited. The transition between
resonant and DIS regimes is likewise very poorly
understood.
Precision measurement of coherent pion
production will allow the first measurement of
the A-dependence of this process. Coherent p0
production is a background to ne searches.
Simulated events in central detector
Central Detector Element showing outer
electromagetic calorimeter (pink) and outer
hadron calorimeter (blue)
Quasi-elastic scatter showing muon and recoil
proton
Coherent p0 production