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Towards mono-energetic virtual $ν$ beam cross-section measurements: A feasibility study of $ν$-Ar interaction analysis with DUNE-PRISM
Preprint

Towards mono-energetic virtual $ν$ beam cross-section measurements: A feasibility study of $ν$-Ar interaction analysis with DUNE-PRISM

DUNE Collaboration, S Abbaslu, A. Abed Abud, R Acciarri, L. P Accorsi, M. A Acero, M. R Adames, G Adamov, M Adamowski, C Adriano, …
ArXiv.org
09 Sep 2025
url
https://arxiv.org/pdf/2509.07664View
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Abstract

Physics - High Energy Physics - Experiment
Neutrino-nucleus cross-section measurements are critical for future neutrino oscillation analyses. However, our models to describe them require further refinement, and a deeper understanding of the underlying physics is essential for future neutrino oscillation experiments to realize their ambitious physics goals. Current neutrino cross-section measurements provide clear deficiencies in neutrino interaction modeling, but almost all are reported averaged over broad neutrino fluxes, rendering their interpretation challenging. Using the DUNE-PRISM concept (Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment Precision Reaction Independent Spectrum Measurement) -- a movable near detector that samples multiple off-axis positions -- neutrino interaction measurements can be used to construct narrow virtual fluxes (less than 100 MeV wide). These fluxes can be used to extract charged-current neutrino-nucleus cross sections as functions of outgoing lepton kinematics within specific neutrino energy ranges. Based on a dedicated simulation with realistic event statistics and flux-related systematic uncertainties, but assuming an almost-perfect detector, we run a feasibility study demonstrating how DUNE-PRISM data can be used to measure muon neutrino charged-current integrated and differential cross sections over narrow fluxes. We find that this approach enables a model independent reconstruction of powerful observables, including energy transfer, typically accessible only in electron scattering measurements, but that large exposures may be required for differential cross-section measurements with few-\% statistical uncertainties.

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