Neutrino Oscillations in the NOvA Far Detector

Lead Research Organisation: University College London
Department Name: Physics and Astronomy

Abstract

The NOvA Experiment is one of the current leading neutrino oscillations experiments in the world. NOvA has the potential to discover both the neutrino mass hierarchy and the CP-violation phase delta. NOvA uses the NuMI muon neutrino beam at Fermilab as its source of neutrinos, which are observed in two off-axis detectors: the NOvA Near detector at Fermilab and the NOvA Far detector in Ash River in Minnesota, 810km away. This thesis focuses on the observation of neutrino oscillations, both in the muon neutrino disappearance channel and in the electron neutrino appearance channel. Neutrino oscillations parameters are fitted to shed further light on the behaviour of this mysterious particle that could hold the clue to some of the universe's unsolved questions.

Studentship Projects

Project Reference Relationship Related To Start End Student Name
ST/N50449X/1 30/09/2015 30/03/2021
1698510 Studentship ST/N50449X/1 30/09/2015 30/07/2019 Sebastian Bending
 
Title Unbinned Likelihood Fitting Framework 
Description Developed an unbinned likelihood fitting framework by which to fit simulated muon neutrino disappearance and electron neutrino appearance energy spectra to real data (differentiating it from the standard binned means by which this is performed). 
Type Of Material Data analysis technique 
Year Produced 2019 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact Quantitatively greater sensitivity to the measurement of neutrino oscillation parameters was achieved as a result.