Precise Determination of Neutrino Flux with Hadron Production Measurements

TL;DR

This paper discusses precise hadron production measurements by NA61/SHINE to improve neutrino flux predictions for accelerator-based experiments, reducing systematic uncertainties in neutrino physics research.

Contribution

It presents recent results and ongoing analyses of hadron production measurements, highlighting their importance for accurate neutrino flux predictions and future experimental plans.

Findings

Improved neutrino flux predictions for T2K and Fermilab experiments.

Quantitative assessment of systematic uncertainties from hadron production.

Future prospects for hadron production measurements at CERN and Fermilab.

Abstract

A precise prediction of the neutrino flux is a critical input for achieving the physics goals of accelerator-based neutrino experiments. In modern experiments, neutrino beams are created from the decays of secondary hadrons produced in hadron-nucleus interactions. Hadron production is the leading systematic uncertainty source on the neutrino flux prediction; therefore, its precise measurement is essential. In this proceedings, recent results and ongoing analyses of hadron production measurements by the NA61/SHINE experiment, as well as prospect for achievable precision on the flux predictions of T2K and Fermilab-based long-baseline neutrino experiments, will be presented. In addition, the necessity and prospects of further hadron production measurements by NA61/SHINE at CERN and the EMPHATIC experiment at Fermilab for the next generation neutrino experiments will be discussed.