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Damian Goeldi (Carleton U) “Enhancing the Physics Reach of the DUNE far Detector”
January 21, 2020 @ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Abstract:
DUNE is a planned long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment measuring μ disappearance and e appearance in an accelerator μ beam (arXiv:1601.05471). Its primary goals are measuring CP violation in the lepton sector, determining the ordering of the three neutrino masses, and precision tests of the three-flavour neutrino oscillation paradigm. Furthermore, DUNE aims to investigate proton decay, and the neutrino flux from the core-collapse of a potential supernova within our galaxy. Finally, it has recently been proposed (DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.123.131803) that an upgraded far detector design could enable DUNE to shed light on the current 2 discrepancy between reactor and solar neutrino oscillation measurements. Liquid argon time projection chambers (LArTPCs) were chosen as primary detectors for the DUNE near and far detector complexes due to their excellent tracking and calorimetry performance. The far detector complex will consist of four multi-kt detectors, whose baseline design is of semi-monolithic nature (arXiv:1807.10327), segmenting each module along the drift axis into multiple TPCs. In contrast a near detector LAr component needs to be fully segmented due to the high event rates present there. This motivated the development of ArgonCube, a fully modular TPC concept, alleviating high-voltage requirements, reducing optical pile-up, and providing ambiguity-free tracking and calorimetry by means of a pixelated charge readout. While near detector development is well on track, we have recently made the case for an ArgonCube far detector design (arXiv:1908.10956). Full segmentation would alleviate high-voltage requirements drastically. Combined with the pixelated charge readout eliminating bulky wire frames, the sensitive volume could be increased significantly. A pixelated charge readout providing true 3D tracking free from ambiguity would simplify event reconstruction. Reconstruction efficiency would no longer depend on the incident angle of an interaction, enhancing sensitivity to isotropic events, such as proton decay, solar, and supernova neutrinos. This talk will first introduce the ArgonCube concept, and show how it addresses the DUNE near detector challenges. I will then focus on the potential of an ArgonCube far detector to enhance DUNE’s capabilities in regards to its secondary physics goals, as well as the changes required compared to the near detector design.