Date Thesis Awarded
4-2019
Access Type
Honors Thesis -- Access Restricted On-Campus Only
Degree Name
Bachelors of Science (BS)
Department
Physics
Advisor
Jeff Nelson
Committee Members
Seth Aubin
Heather Sasinowska
Abstract
The MINERvA experiment, housed at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory near Chicago, is a high-statistics experiment studying neutrino-nuclei interactions. Neutrino interaction models will be a limiting uncertainty of next generation neutrino oscillation experiments. Understanding the properties of neutrino oscillations may shine light on the matter vs anti-matter discrepancy in the universe. The data recorded by MINERvA can be compared with current neutrino interaction simulations to determine their level of agreement. Improving the agreement between simulation and data leads to improved neutrino models and reduced systematic uncertainties in neutrino oscillation measurements. Before comparisons can be made, the data collected must be calibrated. Test Beam experiments, small scale versions of the MINERvA detector, are used for in-depth analyses of various detector responses to known particles. Alignment calibration for Run 2 of Test Beam 2 was started. It was found the mapping between simulation detector components and the components on the physical detector was incorrect for the configuration of Run 2. This mapping was corrected and alignment completed. In addition, strip-to-strip calibration for uniform energy response among scintillator strips was completed. New alignment and strip-to-strip constants have been installed in the Test Beam framework for collaboration use.
Recommended Citation
Sydnor, Jessica, "MINERvA High Energy Test Beam Calibration" (2019). Undergraduate Honors Theses. William & Mary. Paper 1320.
https://scholarworks.wm.edu/honorstheses/1320
