We present the first measurement of the missing energy due to nuclear effects in monoenergetic, muon neutrino charged-current interactions on carbon, originating from K^{+}→μ^{+}ν_{μ} decay at rest (E_{ν_{μ}}=235.5 MeV), performed with the J-PARC Sterile Neutrino Search at the J-PARC Spallation Neutron Source liquid scintillator based experiment. Toward characterizing the neutrino interaction, ostensibly ν_{μ}n→μ^{-}p or ν_{μ}^{12}C→μ^{-}^{12}N, we define the missing energy as the energy transferred to the nucleus (ω) minus the kinetic energy of the outgoing proton(s), E_{m}≡ω-∑T_{p}, and relate this to visible energy in the detector, E_{m}=E_{ν_{μ}}(235.5 MeV)-m_{μ}(105.7 MeV)+[m_{n}-m_{p}(1.3 MeV)]-E_{vis}. The missing energy, which is naively expected to be zero in the absence of nuclear effects (e.g., nucleon separation energy, Fermi momenta, and final-state interactions), is uniquely sensitive to many aspects of the interaction, and has previously been inaccessible with neutrinos. The shape-only, differential cross section measurement reported, based on a (77±3)% pure double-coincidence kaon decay-at-rest signal (621 total events), provides detailed insight into neutrino-nucleus interactions, allowing even the nuclear orbital shell of the struck nucleon to be inferred. The measurement provides an important benchmark for models and event generators at hundreds of MeV neutrino energies, characterized by the difficult-to-model transition region between neutrino-nucleus and neutrino-nucleon scattering, and relevant for applications in nuclear physics, neutrino oscillation measurements, and Type-II supernova studies.
This manuscript describes an innovative method to tag muons using the baseline information of the Flash ADC (FADC) waveform of PMTs in the JSNS2 (J-PARC Sterile Neutrino Search at J-PARC Spallation Neutron Source) experiment. The experiment is designed to search for evidence of sterile neutrinos, and a reliable method for muon tagging is an essential component for background rejection because the detector is located above ground, on the 3rd floor of the J-PARC Material and Life Science Experimental Facility (MLF). Cosmogenic muons that stop within the detector volume and produce a Michel electron are a particularly important background that must be rejected for our sterile neutrino search. Utilizing this innovative method, more than 99.8 % of Michel electrons can be rejected even without using information from the detector's veto region PMTs. This technique can be employed by any experiments which uses a similar detector configuration.
JSNS$^2$ searches for short baseline neutrino oscillations with a baseline of 24~meters and a target of 17~tonnes of the Gd-loaded liquid scintillator. The correct algorithm on the event reconstruction of events, which determines the position and energy of neutrino interactions in the detector, are essential for the physics analysis of the data from the experiment. Therefore, the performance of the event reconstruction is carefully checked with calibrations using $^{252}$Cf source. This manuscript describes the methodology and the performance of the event reconstruction.
JSNS2 (J-PARC Sterile Neutrino Search at J-PARC Spallation Neutron Source) is an experiment that is searching for sterile neutrinos via the observation of $\bar{\nu }_{\mu } \rightarrow \bar{\nu }_e$ appearance oscillations using neutrinos from muon decay-at-rest. For this search, rejecting cosmic-ray-induced neutron events by Pulse Shape Discrimination (PSD) is essential because the JSNS2 detector is located above ground, on the third floor of the building. We have achieved 94.95%$\pm$0.15% rejection of neutron events while keeping 92.82%$\pm$1.77% of signal, electron-like events using a data-driven likelihood method. This article will report the PSD technique using the full fiducial volume of the JSNS2 detector.
JSNS^2 (J-PARC Sterile Neutrino Search at J-PARC Spallation Neutron Source) is an experiment searching for sterile neutrinos through the observation of _μ →_e appearance oscillations, using neutrinos produced by muon decay-at-rest. A key aspect of the experiment involves accurately understanding the neutrino flux and the quantities of pions and muons, which are progenitors of (anti-)neutrinos, given that their production rates have yet to be measured. We present the first electron-neutrino flux measurement using ^12C(ν_e,e^-) ^12N_g.s. reaction in JSNS^2, yielding a flux of (6.7 ± 1.6 (stat.) ± 1.7 (syst.)) × 10^-9 cm^-2 proton^-1 at the JSNS^2 detector location, located at 24 meters distance from the mercury target. This flux measurement is consistent with predictions from simulations based on hadron models.
JSNS$^2$ (J-PARC Sterile Neutrino Search at J-PARC Spallation Neutron Source) is an experiment that is searching for sterile neutrinos via the observation of $\bar{\nu}_{\mu} \rightarrow \bar{\nu}_e$ appearance oscillations using neutrinos with muon decay-at-rest. For this search, rejecting cosmic-ray-induced neutron events by Pulse Shape Discrimination (PSD) is essential because the JSNS$^2$ detector is located above ground, on the third floor of the building. We have achieved 95$\%$ rejection of neutron events while keeping 90$\%$ of signal, electron-like events using a data driven likelihood method.
JSNS$^2$ (J-PARC Sterile Neutrino Search at J-PARC Spallation Neutron Source) is an experiment which searches for sterile neutrinos via the observation of $\bar{\nu}_{\mu} \to \bar{\nu}_{e}$ appearance oscillations using muon decay-at-rest neutrinos. The data taking of JSNS$^2$ have been performed from 2021. In this manuscript, a study of the accidental background is presented. The rate of the accidental background is (9.29$\pm 0.39) \times 10^{-8}$ / spill with 0.75 MW beam power and comparable to the number of searching signals.
We report an updated neutrino mixing angle of θ_13 obtained from a complete data sample of the RENO experiment. The experiment has measured the amplitude and frequency of reactor anti-electron-neutrinos (ν̅_e) oscillations at the Hanbit nuclear power plant, Younggwang, Korea, since August 2011. As of March 2023, the data acquisition was completed after a total of 3800 live days of detector operation. The observed candidates via inverse beta decay (IBD) are 1,211,995 (144,667) in the near (far) detector. Based on an observed energy-dependent reactor neutrino disappearance, neutrino oscillation parameters of θ_13 and |Δ m_ee^2| are precisely determined as sin^22θ_13=0.0920_-0.0042^+0.0044(stat.)_-0.0041^+0.0041(syst.) and |Δ m_ee^2|=[2.57_-0.11^+0.10(stat.)_-0.05^+0.05(syst.)]×10^-3 eV^2. Compared to the previous RENO results published in Ref. , the precision is improved from 7.5% to 6.4% for sin^22θ_13 and from 5.2% to 4.5% for |Δ m_ee^2|. The statistical error of the measurement has reached our goal and is hardly improved with additional data-taking.
Abstract JSNS $$^2$$ 2 (J-PARC Sterile Neutrino Search at J-PARC Spallation Neutron Source) is an experiment that searches for sterile neutrinos via the observation of $$\bar{\nu }_{\mu } \rightarrow \bar{\nu }_{e}$$ ν ¯ μ → ν ¯ e appearance oscillations using muon decay-at-rest neutrinos. The JSNS $$^2$$ 2 experiment performed data taking from 2021. In this manuscript, a study of the accidental background is presented. The rate of the accidental background is ( $$9.29\pm 0.39) \times 10^{-8}$$ 9.29 ± 0.39 ) × 10 - 8 /spill with 0.75 MW beam power and comparable to the expected number of signal events.
The JSNS$^{2}$ (J-PARC Sterile Neutrino Search at J-PARC Spallation Neutron Source) is an experiment designed for the search for sterile neutrinos. The experiment is currently at the stage of the second phase named JSNS$^{2}$-II with two detectors at near and far locations from the neutrino source. One of the key components of the experiment is an acrylic vessel, that is used for the target volume for the detection of the anti-neutrinos. The specifications, design, and measured properties of the acrylic vessel are described.
We report the measured production rates of unstable isotopes ^9Li and ^8He produced by cosmic muon spallation on ^12C using two identical detectors of the RENO experiment. Their beta-decays accompanied by a neutron make a significant contribution to backgrounds of reactor antineutrino events in precise determination of the smallest neutrino mixing angle. The mean muon energy of its near (far) detector with an overburden of 120 (450) m.w.e. is estimated as 33.1 +- 2.3 (73.6 +- 4.4) GeV. Based on roughly 3100 days of data, the cosmogenic production rate of ^9Li (^8He) isotope is measured to be 44.2 +- 3.1 (10.6 +- 7.4) per day at near detector and 10.0 +- 1.1 (2.1 +- 1.5) per day at far detector. This corresponds to yields of ^9Li (^8He), 4.80 +- 0.36 (1.15 +- 0.81) and 9.9 +- 1.1 (2.1 +- 1.5) at near and far detectors, respectively, in a unit of 10^-8 μ^-1 g^-1 cm^2. Combining the measured ^9Li yields with other available underground measurements, an excellent power-law relationship of the yield with respect to the mean muon energy is found to have an exponent of α = 0.75 +- 0.05.
We present a nearly reactor model independent search for sterile neutrino oscillation using 2 509 days of RENO near detector data and 180 days of NEOS data. The reactor related systematic uncertainties are significantly suppressed as both detectors are located at the same reactor complex of Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant. The search is performed by electron antineutrino ((nu) over bar (e)) disappearance between six reactors and two detectors with flux-weighted baselines of 419 m (RENO) and 24 m (NEOS). A spectral comparison of the NEOS prompt-energy spectrum with a no-oscillation prediction from the RENO measurement can explore reactor (nu) over bar (e) oscillations to sterile neutrino. Based on the comparison, we obtain a 95% C.L. excluded region of 0.1 < vertical bar Delta m(4)(1)(2)vertical bar < 7 eV(2). We also obtain a 68% C.L. allowed region with the best fit of vertical bar Delta m(4)(1)(2)vertical bar = 2.41 eV(2) and sine(2) 2 theta(14) = 0.08 having a p-value of 8.2%. Comparisons of obtained reactor antineutrino spectra at reactor sources are made among RENO, NEOS, and Daya Bay to find a possible spectral variation.
(The RENO Collaboration) Department of Physics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Korea Institute for High Energy Physics, Dongshin University, Naju 58245, Korea Department of Fire Safety, Seoyeong University, Gwangju 61268, Korea GIST College, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju 61005, Korea Institute for Universe and Elementary Particles, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea Department of Physics and Astronomy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea Department of Physics, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea (Dated: April 21, 2022)
JSNS ^2 (J-PARC Sterile Neutrino Search at J-PARC Spallation Neutron Source) is an experiment that is searching for sterile neutrinos via the observation of ν̅_μ→ν̅_e appearance oscillations using muon decay-at-rest neutrinos. Before dedicated data taking in the first-half of 2021, we performed a commissioning run for 10 days in June 2020. Using the data obtained in this commissioning run, in this paper, we present an estimate of the correlated background which imitates the ν̅_e signal in a sterile neutrino search. In addition, in order to demonstrate future prospects of the JSNS ^2 experiment, possible pulse shape discrimination improvements towards reducing cosmic ray induced fast neutron background are described.
The JSNS^2 (J-PARC Sterile Neutrino Search at J-PARC Spallation Neutron Source) experiment aims to search for oscillations involving a sterile neutrino in the eV^2 mass-splitting range. The experiment will search for the appearance of electron antineutrinos oscillated from muon antineutrinos. The electron antineutrinos are detected via the inverse beta decay process using a liquid scintillator detector. A 1MW beam of 3 GeV protons incident on a spallation neutron target produces an intense and pulsed neutrino source from pion, muon, and kaon decay at rest. The JSNS^2 detector is located 24 m away from the neutrino source and began operation from June 2020. The detector contains 17 tonnes of gadolinium (Gd) loaded liquid scintillator (LS) in an acrylic vessel, as a neutrino target. It is surrounded by 31 tonnes of unloaded LS in a stainless steel tank. Optical photons produced in LS are viewed by 120 R7081 Hamamatsu 10-inch Photomultiplier Tubes (PMTs). In this paper, we describe the JSNS^2 detector design, construction, and operation.
The RENO experiment reports measured flux and energy spectrum of reactor electron antineutrinos nu over bar e from the six reactors at Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant. The measurements use 966 094 116 111 nu over bar e candidate events with a background fraction of 2.39% (5.13%), acquired in the near (far) detector, from August 2011 to March 2020. The inverse beta decay (IBD) yield is measured as o5.852 1 0.094 thorn x 10-43 cm2/fission, corresponding to 0.941 10.015 of the prediction by the Huber and Mueller (HM) model. A reactor nu over bar e spectrum is obtained by unfolding a measured IBD prompt spectrum. The obtained neutrino spectrum shows a clear excess around 6 MeV relative to the HM prediction. The obtained reactor nu over bar e spectrum will be useful for understanding unknown neutrino properties and reactor models. The observed discrepancies suggest the next round of precision measurements and modification of the current reactor nu over bar e models.
The Sterile Neutrino Search at the J-PARC Spallation Neutron Source (JSNS$^2$) experiment aims to search for sterile neutrino oscillations using a neutrino beam from muon decays at rest. The JSNS$^2$ detector contains 17 tons of 0.1$\%$ gadolinium (Gd) loaded liquid scintillator (LS) as a neutrino target. Detector construction was completed in the spring of 2020. A slow control and monitoring system (SCMS) was implemented for reliable control and quick monitoring of the detector operational status and environmental conditions. It issues an alarm if any of the monitored parameters exceed a preset acceptable range. The SCMS monitors the high voltage of the photomultiplier tubes, the LS level in the detector, possible LS overflow and leakage, the temperature and air pressure in the detector, the humidity of the experimental hall, and the LS flow rate during filling and extraction. An initial 10 days of data-taking with a neutrino beam was done following a successful commissioning of the detector and SCMS in 2020 June. In this paper, we present a description of the assembly and installation of the SCMS and its performance.
The Reactor Experiment for Neutrino Oscillation (RENO) experiment has been taking data using two identical liquid scintillator detectors since August 2011. The experiment has observed the disappearance of reactor neutrinos in their interactions with free protons, followed by neutron capture on hydrogen (n-H). Based on 1500 live days of data taken with 16.8 GWth reactors at the Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant in Korea, the near (far) detector observes 567690 (90747) electron antineutrino candidate events with the n-H data. This provides an independent measurement of neutrino mixing angle θ13 and a consistency check on the validity of the result obtained from the data with neutron capture on Gadolinium (n-Gd). Furthermore, it provides an important cross-check on the systematic uncertainties of the n-Gd measurement. Based on a rate-only analysis, we obtain sin2 2θ13 = 0.086 ± 0.008(stat.) ± 0.014(syst.). The combination of this result with that of n-Gd is also reported.
The JSNS2 (J-PARC Sterile Neutrino Search at J-PARC Spallation Neutron Source) experiment aims to search for neutrino oscillations over a 24 m short baseline at J-PARC . The JSNS2 inner detector is filled with 17 tons of gadolinium-loaded liquid scintillator (LS) and both the intermediate γ-catcher and the optically separated outer veto are filled with un-loaded LS . Optical photons from scintillation are observed by 120 Photomultiplier Tubes (PMTs). A total of 130 PMTs for the JSNS2 experiment were either donated by other experiments or purchased from Hamamatsu. Donated PMTs were purchased around 10 years ago, therefore JSNS2 did pre-calibration of the PMTs including the purchased PMTs. 123 PMTs demonstrated acceptable performance for the JSNS2 experiment, and 120 PMTs were installed in the detector.
We report a search result for a light sterile neutrino oscillation with roughly 2200 live days of data in the RENO experiment. The search is performed by electron antineutrino (ν[over ¯]_{e}) disappearance taking place between six 2.8 GW_{th} reactors and two identical detectors located at 294 m (near) and 1383 m (far) from the center of the reactor array. A spectral comparison between near and far detectors can explore reactor ν[over ¯]_{e} oscillations to a light sterile neutrino. An observed spectral difference is found to be consistent with that of the three-flavor oscillation model. This yields limits on sin^{2}2θ_{14} in the 10^{-4}≲|Δm_{41}^{2}|≲0.5 eV^{2} region, free from reactor ν[over ¯]_{e} flux and spectrum uncertainties. The RENO result provides the most stringent limits on sterile neutrino mixing at |Δm_{41}^{2}|≲0.002 eV^{2} using the ν[over ¯]_{e} disappearance channel.