Long-lived particle production through the PRISM

TL;DR

This paper explores how DUNE's near detectors can differentiate between various long-lived particles and their production mechanisms, leveraging energy resolution and off-axis detector movement to enhance detection capabilities.

Contribution

It introduces a novel analysis of DUNE's potential to distinguish different long-lived particle models using the PRISM concept and energy resolution.

Findings

DUNE's energy resolution improves particle discrimination.

Off-axis detector movement enhances detection of different production mechanisms.

The study demonstrates the potential to identify specific long-lived particle models.

Abstract

Accelerator-based neutrino experiments offer a competitive environment to search for long-lived particles with sub-GeV masses. Yet, many theoretical models involving such particles predict very similar phenomenology and nearly identical final-state signatures. In view of this, we study the capabilities of upcoming experiments -- specifically the DUNE near detectors -- to distinguish between different classes of long-lived particles and the mechanisms by which they are produces. We expound how the experiment's excellent energy resolution, combined with the possibility to move the detector off-axis (the DUNE-PRISM concept), work in tandem to improve the discrimination power.