A pressurized argon gas TPC as DUNE near detector

TL;DR

This paper discusses the design and potential benefits of using a pressurized argon gas TPC as the near detector for DUNE, aiming to improve neutrino interaction measurements and reduce systematic uncertainties.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of a pressurized argon gas TPC for DUNE's near detector, highlighting its advantages for detailed nuclear effect measurements.

Findings

Enhanced measurement of nuclear effects at neutrino interaction vertices.

Potential reduction in systematic uncertainties for neutrino oscillation studies.

Feasibility of implementing a pressurized argon gas TPC in DUNE setup.

Abstract

DUNE is a new international experiment for neutrino physics and nucleon decay searches. It will consist of two detectors, about 1300 km apart, exposed to a multi-megawatt neutrino beam that will be built at Fermilab. One of the two detectors will be installed several hundred meters downstream of the neutrino production point with the primary role of characterising the energy spectrum and composition of the beam as well as performing precision measurements of neutrino cross sections. For the design of this so-called near detector, the DUNE Collaboration is considering, among other technologies, a pressurized argon gas time projection chamber. Such a detector, thanks to its low density and low detection thresholds, would allow the detailed measurement in argon of nuclear effects at the neutrino interaction vertex, which are considered at present one of the most important sources of systematic uncertainty for neutrino oscillation measurements.