Identification of low-energy kaons in the ProtoDUNE-SP detector | CU Experts

; The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) is a next-generation neutrino experiment with a rich physics program that includes searches for the hypothetical phenomenon of proton decay. Utilizing liquid-argon time-projection chamber technology, DUNE is expected to achieve world-leading sensitivity in the proton decay channels that involve charged kaons in their final states. The first DUNE demonstrator, ProtoDUNE Single-Phase, was a 0.77 kt detector that operated from 2018 to 2020 at the CERN Neutrino Platform, exposed to a mixed hadron and electron test-beam with momenta ranging from 0.3 to; ; ; 7; ; ; GeV; /; c; ; ; . We present a selection of low-energy kaons among the secondary particles produced in hadronic reactions, using data from the 6 and; ; ; 7; ; ; GeV; /; c; ; ; beam runs. The selection efficiency is 1% and the sample purity 92%. The initial energies of the selected kaon candidates encompass the expected energy range of kaons originating from proton decay events in DUNE (below; ; ∼; 200; ; ; MeV; ; ). In addition, we demonstrate the capability of this detector technology to discriminate between kaons and other particles such as protons and muons, and provide a comprehensive description of their energy loss in liquid argon, which shows good agreement with the simulation. These results pave the way for future proton decay searches at DUNE.;

Abbaslu S; Abd Alrahman F; Abed Abud A; Acciarri R; Accorsi LP; Acero MA; Adames MR; Adamov G; Adamowski M; Adriano C

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