Date Thesis Awarded

5-2015

Access Type

Honors Thesis -- Access Restricted On-Campus Only

Degree Name

Bachelors of Science (BS)

Department

Physics

Advisor

Jeffrey Nelson

Committee Members

Gina Hoatson

Patricia Vahle

Nahum Zobin

Abstract

Studying the neutrino cross sections of various materials is of great importance in the analysis of data from neutrino oscillation experiments, as well as interesting in its own right. We have examined the charged-current muon neutrino cross section ratio between lead and scintillator, with our lead target being in the MINERvA electromagnetic calorimeter. This choice has allowed us to obtain usable efficiencies out to much larger muon angles than was feasible from the upstream targets. Comparing the cross section ratio in the data and Monte Carlo, we have found that the ratios agree reasonably well as a function of neutrino energy, but with a distinct excess at low energies. However, there are significant differences between data and Monte Carlo at low and high values of Bjorken x.

Recommended Citation

Bergan, William F., "Measurements of the lead-hydrocarbon cross section ratio for charged-current neutrino interactions" (2015). Undergraduate Honors Theses. William & Mary. Paper 159.
https://scholarworks.wm.edu/honorstheses/159