Repository logo
 

Measuring theta?? via muon neutrino to electron neutrino oscillations in the MINOS experiment


No Thumbnail Available

Type

Thesis

Change log

Authors

Toner, Ruth Bushnell 

Abstract

One of the primary goals in neutrino physics at the present moment is to make a measurement of the neutrino oscillation parameter B13 . This parameter, in addition to being unknown, could potentially allow for the introduction of CP violation into the lepton sector. The MINOS long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment has the ability to make a measurement of this parameter, by looking for the oscillation of muon neutrinos to electron neutrinos between a Near and Far Detector over a distance of 735 km. This thesis discusses the development of an analysis framework to search for this oscillation mode. Two major improvements to pre-existing analysis techniques have been implemented by the author. First, a novel particle ID technique based on strip topology, known as the Library Event Matching (LEM) method, is optimized for use in MINOS. Second, a multiple bin likelihood method is developed to fit the data. These two improvements, when combined, increase MINOS' sensitivity to sin2(W13 ) by 27% over previous analyses. This thesis sees a small excess over background in the Far Detector. A Frequentist interpretation of the data rules out B13 = 0 at 91 %. A Bayesian interpretation of the data is also presented, placing the most stringent upper boundary on the oscillation parameter to date, at sin2 (2B13 ) < 0.09(0.015) for the Normal (Inverted) Hierarchy and 6cp = 0.

Description

This thesis is not available on this repository until the author agrees to make it public. If you are the author of this thesis and would like to make your work openly available, please contact us: thesis@repository.cam.ac.uk.


Cambridge University Library can make a copy of this work available only for the purposes of private study and non-commercial research. Copies should not be shared or saved in any shared facilities. Copyright over the content of these works is with their authors. Theses from the Library collection are considered unpublished works and according to UK legislation quoting from them is not allowed without permission from their author.

If you can commit to these terms, please complete the request form which you can find through this link: https://imagingservices.lib.cam.ac.uk/


Please note that print copies of theses may be available for consultation in the Cambridge University Library's Manuscript reading room. Admission details are at http://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/collections/departments/manuscripts-university-archives

Date

Advisors

Keywords

Qualification

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Awarding Institution

University of Cambridge