arXiv subjects

A. Scanu

Publications and source records attributed to A. Scanu.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Exploring ESS$\nu$SB Near Water Cherenkov Detector Designs Through Graph Neural Network Flavour Identification

The ESS$\nu$SB experiment aims to measure CP violation in the leptonic sector with high precision, necessitating robust reconstruction of neutrino events in the water Cherenkov (WC) detectors. In this work, we investigate the flavour identification potential of the proposed near WC detector using graph neural network (GNN)-based classification, with a focus on variations of key detector design parameters. In particular, we study whether a smaller and/or less instrumented detector can achieve the required classification performance. Using detailed Monte Carlo simulations of charged-current (CC) neutrino interactions, we train GNN classifiers to distinguish electron and muon neutrino CC events. We find that GNN-based classification remains accurate even for detector configurations with volumes up to a factor of eight smaller than the nominal design, with only moderate degradation in classification efficiency at fixed background rejection. The resulting loss in efficiency can largely be compensated by increased exposure time. Furthermore, we demonstrate that reduced photomultiplier tube (PMT) coverage in the nominal detector has a limited impact on classification performance, provided that coverage is maintained in regions of highest signal yield, in particular near the forward end-cap.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2026

Study of Supernova Neutrinos at ESSnuSB

In this paper, we have studied the sensitivity of the ESSnuSB far detector to supernova neutrinos. ESSnuSB is a proposed long-baseline neutrino experiment in Sweden, which will use a 538 kt water Cherenkov detector to probe the leptonic phase $\delta_{\rm CP}$ by studying the second oscillation maximum. However, given the very large detector volume, it will have an excellent sensitivity to supernova neutrinos if a supernova explosion occurs during the run-time of ESSnuSB. Motivated by this, we first estimate the expected event rates at the ESSnuSB far detector for three different supernova flux models and then we probe its capability to distinguish these flux models. Additionally, we also investigate the impact of systematic errors and detector efficiency. Our results show that depending on the model of the supernova neutrinos, the expected number of events detected at Earth varies significantly. Our results also show that the ESSnuSB far detector may have excellent potential in distinguishing these flux models depending upon the distance of the supernova explosion, systematic errors and detector efficiency.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2026

Complementarity between atmospheric and super-beam neutrinos at ESSnuSB

The ESSnuSB experiment aims to measure the leptonic CP phase $\delta_{CP}$ with an unprecedented resolution by probing neutrino oscillations at the second oscillation maximum. In the present work, the complementarity between the long-baseline neutrino program and atmospheric neutrinos is investigated for ESSnuSB. By simulating atmospheric neutrino events equivalent of 5.4 Mt$\cdot$year exposure, the resolution for $\delta_{\rm CP}^{}$ is found to improve from $7.5^\circ$ ($6.7^\circ$) to $7.1^\circ$ ($6.5^\circ$) at $1\sigma$~CL for $\delta_{\rm CP}^{} = -90^\circ$ ($+90^\circ$) with respect to super-beam neutrinos, resolving also the degeneracies arising from neutrino mass ordering. These findings highlight the synergies that exist between super-beam neutrinos and atmospheric neutrinos in ESSnuSB.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2025

Cryogenic characterization of FBK NUV-HD-Cryo 3T SiPM sensors for the DUNE photon detection system

The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) is a long-baseline neutrino experiment based in the USA and composed of a Near Detector (ND) complex at Fermi National Laboratory (FNAL), and a Far Detector (FD) complex located at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) $\sim$1300\,km distant. DUNE will study neutrino oscillations looking for unresolved issues of the Standard Model of particle physics (SM) such as CP violation in the leptonic sector, neutrino mass ordering and others, starting from the early 2030s. The FD, with a mass of $\sim$17\,kt, that will exploit both ionization and scintillation signals to detect neutrino interactions with Argon. Scintillating photons in LAr will be detected by the photon detection system (PDS) based on light collectors coupled to Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPMs). During a test campaign, different laboratories of the collaboration performed an investigation of the best SiPM candidates that fulfill the DUNE FD requirements. We identified two models of SiPM, produced by Hamamatsu Photonics K.K. (HPK) and Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK), respectively. In this paper, we focus on the FBK selected model showing its main features. We will describe the characterization protocol, the results at both room and cryogenic temperatures and the photon detection efficiency measurements.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2025

Searching non-standard interactions with atmospheric neutrinos at ESSnuSB

Atmospheric neutrinos provide a unique avenue to study neutrino interactions in matter. In this work, the prospects of constraining non-standard neutrino interactions with atmospheric neutrino oscillations are investigated for the proposed ESSnuSB far detector. By analyzing atmospheric neutrino samples equivalent to 5.4 Mt$\cdot$year exposure, it is found that ESSnuSB could be able to set the upper bounds $|\epsilon_{e\mu}^m| < 0.053, |\epsilon_{e\tau}^m| < 0.057, |\epsilon_{\mu\tau}^m| < 0.021, \epsilon_{ee}^m - \epsilon_{\mu\mu}^m < 0.075$ and $|\epsilon_{\tau\tau}^m - \epsilon_{\mu\mu}^m| < 0.031$ at $90\%$ CL, when the results are minimized for $\phi_{e\mu}^m, \phi_{e\tau}^m$ and $\phi_{\mu\tau}^m$ and normal ordering is assumed for neutrino masses. It is also shown that the presence of non-standard interactions could affect the sensitivities to neutrino mass ordering and $\theta_{23}^{}$ octant in comparison to the standard interaction scheme. The results of this work highlight the complementarity between atmospheric and accelerator neutrino programs in ESSnuSB.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2025

Probing Long-Range Forces in Neutrino Oscillations at the ESSnuSB Experiment

Neutrino oscillations constitute an excellent tool to probe physics beyond the Standard Model. In this paper, we investigate the potential of the ESSnuSB experiment to constrain the effects of flavour-dependent long-range forces (LRFs) in neutrino oscillations, which may arise due to the extension of the Standard Model gauge group by introducing new $U(1)$ symmetries. Focusing on three specific $U(1)$ symmetries -- $L_e - L_\mu$, $L_e - L_\tau$, and $L_\mu - L_\tau$, we demonstrate that ESSnuSB offers a favourable environment to search for LRF effects. Our analyses reveal that ESSnuSB can set $90\%$ confidence level bounds of $V_{e\mu} < 2.99 \times 10^{-14} \, \text{eV}$, $V_{e\tau} < 2.05 \times 10^{-14} \, \text{eV}$, and $V_{\mu\tau} < 1.81 \times 10^{-14} \, \text{eV}$, which are competitive to the upcoming Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE). It is also observed that reducing the systematic uncertainties from $5\%$ to $2\%$ improves the ESSnuSB limits on $V_{\alpha\beta}$. Interestingly, we find limited correlations between LRF parameters and the less constrained lepton mixing parameters $\theta_{23}$ and $\delta_{\text{CP}}$, preserving the robustness of ESSnuSB's sensitivity to CP violation. Even under extreme LRF potentials ($V_{\alpha\beta} \gg 10^{-13} \, \text{eV}$), the CP-violation sensitivity and $\delta_{\text{CP}}$ precision remain largely unaffected. These results establish ESSnuSB as a competitive experimental setup for probing LRF effects, complementing constraints from other neutrino sources and offering critical insights into the physics of long-range forces.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2025

nuSCOPE: A short-baseline neutrino beam at CERN for high-precision cross-section measurements

A new generation of neutrino cross-section experiments at the GeV scale is crucial in the precision era of oscillation physics and lepton flavor studies. In this document, we present a novel neutrino beam design that leverages the experience and R&D achievements of the NP06/ENUBET and NuTag Collaborations and explore its potential implementation at CERN. This beam enables flux monitoring at the percent level and provides a neutrino energy measurement independent of final state particle reconstruction at the neutrino detector. As a result, it eliminates the two primary sources of systematic uncertainty in cross-section measurements: flux normalization and energy bias caused by nuclear effects. We provide a detailed description of the beam technology and instrumentation, along with an overview of its physics potential, with particular emphasis on cross-sections relevant to DUNE and Hyper-Kamiokande.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2025

Classification of Electron and Muon Neutrino Events for the ESS$\nu$SB Near Water Cherenkov Detector using Graph Neural Networks

In the effort to obtain a precise measurement of leptonic CP-violation with the ESS$\nu$SB experiment, accurate and fast reconstruction of detector events plays a pivotal role. In this work, we examine the possibility of replacing the currently proposed likelihood-based reconstruction method with an approach based on Graph Neural Networks (GNNs). As the likelihood-based reconstruction method is reasonably accurate but computationally expensive, one of the benefits of a Machine Learning (ML) based method is enabling fast event reconstruction in the detector development phase, allowing for easier investigation of the effects of changes to the detector design. Focusing on classification of flavour and interaction type in muon and electron events and muon- and electron neutrino interaction events, we demonstrate that the GNN reconstructs events with greater accuracy than the likelihood method for events with greater complexity, and with increased speed for all events. Additionally, we investigate the key factors impacting reconstruction performance, and demonstrate how separation of events by pion production using another GNN classifier can benefit flavour classification.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2025

The ENUBET monitored neutrino beam and its implementation at CERN

The ENUBET project recently concluded the R&D for a site independent design of a monitored neutrino beam for high precision cross section measurements, in which the neutrino flux is inferred from the measurement of charged leptons in an instrumented decay tunnel. In this phase three fundamental results were obtained and will be discussed here: 1) a beamline not requiring a horn and relying on static focusing elements allows to perform a $\nu_e$ cross section measurement in the DUNE energy range with 1% statistical uncertainty employing $10^{20}$ 400 GeV protons on target (pot) and a neutrino detector of the size of ProtoDUNE; 2) the instrumentation of the decay tunnel, based on a cost effective sampling calorimeter solution, has been tested with a large scale prototype achieving the performance required to identify positrons and muons from kaon decays with high signal-to-noise ratio; 3) the systematics budget on the neutrino flux is constrained at the 1% level by fitting the charged leptons observables measured in the decay tunnel. Based on these successful results ENUBET is now pursuing a study for a site dependent implementation at CERN in the framework of Physics Beyond Colliders. In this context a new beamline, able to enrich the neutrino flux at the energy of HK and to reduce by more than a factor 3 the needed pot, has been designed and is being optimized. The civil engineering and radioprotection studies for the siting of ENUBET in the North Area towards the two ProtoDUNEs are also in the scope of this work, with the goal of proposing a neutrino cross section experiment in 2026. The combined use of both the neutrino detectors and of the improved beamline would allow to perform cross section measurements with unprecedented precision in about 5 years with a proton request compatible with the needs of other users after CERN Long Shutdown 3.

hep-ex↗