Hadron production measurements at NA61/SHINE for precise determination of accelerator neutrino fluxes

TL;DR

This paper discusses hadron production measurements at NA61/SHINE to improve the accuracy of neutrino flux predictions in accelerator experiments by reducing systematic uncertainties related to hadronic interaction modeling.

Contribution

It presents new hadron yield and cross section measurements crucial for refining neutrino flux models and outlines future measurement plans beyond 2020.

Findings

Improved hadron production data for neutrino flux modeling

Reduced systematic uncertainties in neutrino experiments

Enhanced understanding of hadronic interactions at CERN

Abstract

The total systematic uncertainty of the neutrino flux in accelerator-based neutrino experiments is dominated by the Monte Carlo modeling of hadronic interactions. Direct hadron production measurements for T2K and Fermilab neutrino experiments, MINERvA, NOvA and DUNE, are being performed at the NA61/SHINE spectrometer at CERN's Super Proton Synchrotron. Crucial for improving neutrino flux predictions, hadron yields, inelastic and production cross sections are obtained at NA61/SHINE where interactions of various hadron beams with thin and thick (replica) targets are reproduced. Recently obtained results will be reported. An extension of NA61/SHINE's programme of hadron production measurements for neutrino experiments is planned beyond 2020.