Identification and reconstruction of low-energy electrons in the ProtoDUNE-SP detector
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Measurements of electrons from νe interactions are crucial for the Deep Underground Neutrino
Experiment (DUNE) neutrino oscillation program, as well as searches for physics beyond the standard
model, supernova neutrino detection, and solar neutrino measurements. This article describes the selection
and reconstruction of low-energy (Michel) electrons in the ProtoDUNE-SP detector. ProtoDUNE-SP is one
of the prototypes for the DUNE far detector, built and operated at CERN as a charged particle test beam
experiment. A sample of low-energy electrons produced by the decay of cosmic muons is selected with a
purity of 95%. This sample is used to calibrate the low-energy electron energy scale with two techniques.
An electron energy calibration based on a cosmic ray muon sample uses calibration constants derived from
measured and simulated cosmic ray muon events. Another calibration technique makes use of the
theoretically well-understood Michel electron energy spectrum to convert reconstructed charge to electron
energy. In addition, the effects of detector response to low-energy electron energy scale and its resolution
including readout electronics threshold effects are quantified. Finally, the relation between the theoretical
and reconstructed low-energy electron energy spectra is derived, and the energy resolution is characterized.
The low-energy electron selection presented here accounts for about 75% of the total electron deposited
energy. After the addition of lost energy using a Monte Carlo simulation, the energy resolution improves
from about 40% to 25% at 50 MeV. These results are used to validate the expected capabilities of the DUNE
far detector to reconstruct low-energy electrons.
Experiment (DUNE) neutrino oscillation program, as well as searches for physics beyond the standard
model, supernova neutrino detection, and solar neutrino measurements. This article describes the selection
and reconstruction of low-energy (Michel) electrons in the ProtoDUNE-SP detector. ProtoDUNE-SP is one
of the prototypes for the DUNE far detector, built and operated at CERN as a charged particle test beam
experiment. A sample of low-energy electrons produced by the decay of cosmic muons is selected with a
purity of 95%. This sample is used to calibrate the low-energy electron energy scale with two techniques.
An electron energy calibration based on a cosmic ray muon sample uses calibration constants derived from
measured and simulated cosmic ray muon events. Another calibration technique makes use of the
theoretically well-understood Michel electron energy spectrum to convert reconstructed charge to electron
energy. In addition, the effects of detector response to low-energy electron energy scale and its resolution
including readout electronics threshold effects are quantified. Finally, the relation between the theoretical
and reconstructed low-energy electron energy spectra is derived, and the energy resolution is characterized.
The low-energy electron selection presented here accounts for about 75% of the total electron deposited
energy. After the addition of lost energy using a Monte Carlo simulation, the energy resolution improves
from about 40% to 25% at 50 MeV. These results are used to validate the expected capabilities of the DUNE
far detector to reconstruct low-energy electrons.
Date Issued
2023-05-01
Date Acceptance
2023-04-27
Citation
Physical Review D, 2023, 107 (9)
ISSN
2470-0010
Publisher
American Physical Society
Journal / Book Title
Physical Review D
Volume
107
Issue
9
Copyright Statement
Published by the American Physical Society Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation, and DOI. Funded by SCOAP3.
License URL
Identifier
https://journals.aps.org/prd/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevD.107.092012
Subjects
Astronomy & Astrophysics
LIQUID ARGON
Physical Sciences
Physics
Physics, Particles & Fields
RECOMBINATION
Science & Technology
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
092012
Date Publish Online
2023-05-30