The MINERvA Neutrino Interaction Experiment

TL;DR

The MINERvA experiment aims to precisely measure neutrino interactions in the GeV energy range, focusing on cross sections, nuclear effects, and hadron rescattering to support neutrino oscillation research.

Contribution

It introduces a new detector setup with fine-grained scintillator and nuclear targets to improve existing neutrino interaction measurements and address key questions for oscillation experiments.

Findings

Progress in detector design, construction, and calibration

Expected first neutrino beam in 2009

Enhanced understanding of nuclear effects in neutrino interactions

Abstract

The MINERvA neutrino interaction experiment in the NuMI beam at Fermilab will measure several aspects of neutrino interactions in the few GeV energy region. We will make cross section and form factor measurements using a fine-grained fully active scintillator (CH) target, and also investigate nuclear effects on neutrino interactions as well as hadron rescattering using integral nuclear targets made of helium, carbon, iron, and lead. We will improve or add to existing measurements and address some specific questions that are important for current and upcoming neutrino oscillation experiments. This paper reports on the progress toward the design, construction, and calibration of the detector, which we expect will get its first neutrino beam in 2009.