Sterile neutrino search in the NOvA Far Detector

TL;DR

This paper discusses improvements in the NOvA experiment's methodology for searching for sterile neutrinos by enhancing detector response modeling, interaction modeling, energy reconstruction, and analysis techniques to cover a broader sterile neutrino mass range.

Contribution

The paper introduces new analysis improvements for sterile neutrino searches in NOvA, including better detector response modeling and energy reconstruction, enabling a wider sterile neutrino mass coverage.

Findings

Enhanced analysis techniques for sterile neutrino detection.

Broader sterile mass range coverage achieved.

Improved modeling reduces systematic uncertainties.

Abstract

The majority of neutrino oscillation experiments have obtained evidence for neutrino oscillations that are compatible with the three-flavor model. Explaining anomalous results from short-baseline experiments, such as LSND and MiniBooNE, in terms of neutrino oscillations requires the existence of sterile neutrinos. The search for sterile neutrino mixing conducted in NOvA uses a long baseline of 810 km between Near Detector (ND) at Fermilab and Far Detector (FD) in Minnesota. The signal for sterile neutrino oscillations is a deficit of neutral-current neutrino interactions at the FD with respect to the ND prediction. In this document, We will present the analysis improvements that we are implementing for future NC sterile neutrino searches with NOvA. These include: improved modelling of our detector response; the inclusion of NC 2p2h interaction modelling; implementing a better energy reconstruction techniques; and including possible oscillation due to sterile neutrinos in the ND . This improvements enable us to do a simultaneous ND-FD shape fit of the NC energy spectrum covering a wider sterile mass range than previous analyses.