Speaker
Description
The future Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) experiment will require unprecedented levels of precision to reach its physics goals. To this end, efficient reconstruction of photons produced in neutrino-nucleus scattering will be essential. This talk will present a new Compton scattering gamma-ray reconstruction tool that can associate blip-like energy depositions with a primary interaction vertex. This would improve the reconstruction of both accelerator and supernova neutrino interactions.
To this end, efficient reconstruction of photons produced in inelastic neutrino-argon interactions in excess of 250 keV will be essential. This new reconstruction was tested with data collected by placing a radioactive fluorine-18 source next to a prototype of the liquid argon time projection chamber of the DUNE Near Detector. This test showed the ability to reconstruct the direction of sub-MeV photons within a 10 percent error, and provided strong support for applying this method to neutrino-nucleus interactions.
We aim to utilize this method to associate each blip-like energy deposit to its interaction vertex leaving behind just background hits, doing so would allow for studies like a millicharged particle analysis in a high rate detector like the DUNE Near Detector. Using this work, we have also developed a design for a liquid argon-based Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner. PET scanners detect gamma rays emitted by a tracer chemical like fluorine-18 to help screen for diseases like cancer.
