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MINERvA Masterclass Start-up

The Fermilab accelerates protons to study neutrinos, shedding light on the universe's nature. Learn how MINERvA examines muon neutrinos' interactions with carbon nuclei, measuring momentum and distinguishing signal from background events. Join the scientific quest to interpret indirect observations and develop reliable inferences. Collaborate, think critically, and analyze events to unlock the secrets of neutrinos. #neutrinoimc

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MINERvA Masterclass Start-up

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  1. ​ ​​ MINERvA Masterclass Start-up

  2. Fermilab The Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Femilab) is the place to be to study neutrinos. The short- and long-baseline programs investigate all sorts of neutrino behaviors and shed light on the nature of the universe.

  3. Fermilab The Fermilab Main Injector sends protons to a targets for different purposes. Some are sent to create neutrino beams.

  4. MINOS and MINERvA protons  target  pions  muons + neutrinos  neutrino beam

  5. MINOS and MINERvA Neutrinos for MINOS were measured once at Fermilab and again in a lab in Minnesota; that experiment is ended. MINERvA continues.

  6. MINERvA Muon neutrinos hit the carbon target. MINERvA measures the products of the interaction.

  7. The Interaction A muon neutrino interacts with a carbon nucleus. A muon and a proton are ejected from the nucleus carrying the neutrino momentum.

  8. Measurement This is what MINERvA “sees”. The neutrino comes from the left, undetected. It hits a carbon nucleus and interacts with a neutron. The interaction transforms the neutrino into a muon and the neutron into a proton. MINERvA can measure the momentum of each.

  9. Signal vs. Background One of these is signal, one is background. Which is which? Why?

  10. Signal vs. Background One of these is signal, one is background. Which is which? Why?

  11. Signal vs. Background • Background events: • Do not fit signal paradigm of one short proton track, one long muon track, or • Confound the ability of MINERvA to measure momentum accurately.

  12. Measure signal in Arachne

  13. Transfer to spreadsheet

  14. What do we know? • Conservation of momentum: • Initial momentum pn all in z (beam) direction • Final momentum pz = pzp + pzm , px = pxp+ pxm, and py = pyp + pym • If we measure final px , py , and pz what do we get? Why? What does it imply? • That is what we are investigating!

  15. “Science is nothing but developed perception, interpreted intent, common sense rounded out and minutely articulated.” George Santayana Indirect observations and imaginative, critical, logical thinking can lead to reliable and valid inferences. Therefore: work together, think (sometimes outside the box), and be critical of each other’s results to figure out what is happening. Keep in Mind . . .

  16. Let’s Analyze Events! Make teams of two. Practice. Talk with physicists. Find good p+ + m- candidates. Which events go to the spreadsheet? Let’s plot final px, py, and pz. Let’s see what they mean! Report! Rapport! Rejoice! Relax! Tweet it! #neutrinoimc

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