Implementation of an upward-going muon trigger for indirect dark matter searches at the NOvA far detector. Issue 8 (December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mina, R.; Frank, M. J.; Fries, E.; Group, R. C.; Norman, A.; Oksuzian, I.
• Is Part Of: Journal of physics. Volume 664:Issue 8(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-12
• Subjects: Physics -- Congresses; 530.5
• DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/664/8/082034
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1742-6588

Abstract

Abstract: The NO v A collaboration has constructed a 14, 000 ton, fine-grained, low-Z, total absorption tracking calorimeter at an off-axis angle to an upgraded NuMI neutrino beam. This detector, with its excellent granularity and energy resolution and relatively low-energy neutrino thresholds, was designed to observe electron neutrino appearance in a muon neutrino beam, but it also has unique capabilities suitable for more exotic efforts. In fact, if an efficient upward- going muon trigger with sufficient cosmic ray background rejection can be demonstrated, NO v A will be capable of a competitive indirect dark matter search for low-mass WIMPs. The cosmic ray muon rate at the NO v A far detector is about 100 kHz and provides the primary challenge for triggering and optimizing such a search analysis. The status of the NO v A upward-going muon trigger is presented.