CAREER: Neutrino Interactions in Matter

目前粒子物理学的关键研究领域是中微子振荡参数的精确测量、中微子质量等级和中微子区段CP破坏的测量。要解决这些问题，需要从实验和理论上更详细地了解核物质中的中微子相互作用。随着强调长基线实验，其中物质效应是重要的，以及在许多实验中选择液体Ar时间投影室作为探测器，其中相关的原子序数对Ar来说是A=40，这样的理解不仅是必要的，而且是基本的。弗吉尼亚理工大学和州立大学的研究工作直接针对这些问题，并基于实验、理论和模拟的补充方法。其目标包括：(1)将事件产生器的预测与实验数据进行比较，重点是与弗吉尼亚理工大学及其合作者将使用MicroBooNE探测器在液态Ar中进行的测量结果进行比较；(2)确定核模型、关联和中微子相互作用的不确定性对发现轻子区CP违例以及中微子振荡参数的实验确定的影响；(3)将最先进的核模型纳入中微子相互作用模拟；(4)确定这些模型为达到观测CP违例所需的灵敏度所需的详细程度。这项拟议的研究具有潜在的变革性，它改变和完善了精灵中微子事件发生器的范围，以更准确地预测事件，并将其与球体模拟器对接，以了解中微子相互作用对确定过去和未来世界范围内中微子实验的中微子振荡参数的影响。与研究平行，该计划包括针对高中和更高级水平的重要教育内容。该小组将在弗吉尼亚理工大学已经活跃的PhysTec计划的基础上，创建一个QuarkNet中心来吸引高中教师和学生，最初的重点是中微子物理。该组织还通过弗吉尼亚-北卡罗来纳州少数群体参与联盟(VT-AMP)计划，积极鼓励代表人数不足的群体的学生参与研究。

Among the key areas of study currently in particle physics are precision measurements of neutrino oscillation parameters, the neutrino mass hierarchy and measurement of CP violation in the neutrino sector. To address these requires a more detailed understanding, both experimentally and theoretically, of neutrino interactions in nuclear matter. With the emphasis long baseline experiments, in which matter effects are important, and on Liquid Argon Time Projection Chambers as the detectors of choice for many experiments, where the relevant atomic number is A=40 for Argon, such understanding is not only necessary, but fundamental. The research effort at Virginia Polytechnic and State University is aimed directly at these questions and is based on a complementary approach using experiment, theory and simulation. The objectives include: (1) to compare event generator predictions with experimental data, focusing on comparisons with measurements that the Virginia Tech group and collaborators will perform in Liquid Argon using the MicroBooNE detector; (2) to determine the impact of nuclear models, correlations and neutrino interaction uncertainties on the discovery of CP violation in the lepton sector and the experimental determination of the neutrino oscillation parameters; (3) to include state-of-the-art nuclear models in the neutrino interaction simulation and (4) to determine the level of detail needed in these models to achieve the required sensitivity to observe CP violation. The proposed research is potentially transformative, by altering and refining the scope of the GENIE neutrino event generator to predict events more precisely and interface it with the GLoBES simulator to understand the effect of neutrino interactions on the determination of neutrino oscillation parameters for past and future neutrino experiments worldwide.In parallel with the research, the program includes important educational components, directed at high school and more advanced levels. The group will build upon an already active PhysTec program at Virginia Tech and will create a QuarkNet center to attract high school teachers and students, with initial emphasis on neutrino physics. The group also actively encourages the participation in the research of students from underrepresented groups through the Virginia-North Carolina Alliance for Minority Participation (VT-AMP) program.