Measuring $\theta_$ Via Muon Neutrino to Electron Neutrino Oscillations in the MINOS Experiment
Author | : |
Publisher | : |
Total Pages | : 238 |
Release | : 2011 |
ISBN-10 | : OCLC:951622037 |
ISBN-13 | : |
Rating | : 4/5 (37 Downloads) |
Download or read book Measuring $\theta_$ Via Muon Neutrino to Electron Neutrino Oscillations in the MINOS Experiment written by and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 238 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: One of the primary goals in neutrino physics at the present moment is to make a measurement of the neutrino oscillation parameter $\theta_$. This parameter, in addition to being unknown, could potentially allow for the introduction of CP violation into the lepton sector. The MINOS long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment has the ability to make a measurement of this parameter, by looking for the oscillation of muon neutrinos to electron neutrinos between a Near and Far Detector over a distance of 735 km. This thesis discusses the development of an analysis framework to search for this oscillation mode. Two major improvements to pre-existing analysis techniques have been implemented by the author. First, a novel particle ID technique based on strip topology, known as the Library Event Matching (LEM) method, is optimized for use in MINOS. Second, a multiple bin likelihood method is developed to fit the data. These two improvements, when combined, increase MINOS' sensitivity to $\sin^2(2\theta_)$ by 27\% over previous analyses. This thesis sees a small excess over background in the Far Detector. A Frequentist interpretation of the data rules out $\theta_=0$ at 91\%. A Bayesian interpretation of the data is also presented, placing the most stringent upper boundary on the oscillation parameter to date, at $\sin^2(2\theta_)