RII Track-4:NSF: Exploring the Potential of ANNIE Physics Phase and Beyond

加速器中微子中子相互作用实验（ANNIE）是费米实验室助推器中微子束中的一个26吨重的掺钆水切伦科夫探测器，按粒子物理学标准来说很小，但有很大的野心。其目标是利用先进的光电传感器和新的实验技术开发下一代中微子探测器，同时进行重要的测量以了解中微子-核相互作用。ANNIE的结果将直接影响到未来大型中微子探测器系统不确定性的降低和信号-背景分辨能力的提高，这对于长基线振荡物理、质子衰变研究和超新星探测至关重要。拟议的研究将开发新的分析算法，以提高ANNIE的中微子探测能力，并进行基本的模拟和测试，以探索超越当前阶段的物理潜力。该奖学金将促进南达科他州矿业与技术学院（SD矿业）和费米实验室之间的合作。它还将为PI和一名研究生提供全面的培训，以提高该小组在开发下一代中微子探测器方面的研究能力。ANNIE将对中微子探测器中使用的新技术进行基础性试验，例如新型的大面积皮秒光电探测器（LAPPD）和新开发的探测介质水基液体闪烁体（WbLS）等。ANNIE探测器背后的技术将对未来大型水切伦科夫探测器的发展以及中微子物理学的探测技术产生重大影响。该奖学金支持PI和一名研究生访问费米实验室六个月，在费米实验室现场与他们的ANNIE合作者密切合作。拟议的研究旨在（1）开发分析算法，以推动ANNIE探测器充分发挥其潜力，展示其对未来实验的承诺，（2）通过将靶容器部署到现有水箱中来测试新的中微子探测介质WbLS，以及（3）进行模拟，以调查使用ANNIE基础设施测量中微子-氩相互作用的终态中子数的可行性。拟议的研究将提供一个优化的基于快速定时的重建包，以促进物理分析和探索ANNIE超越当前阶段的潜力。WbLS部署和液态氩靶部署的可行性研究将ANNIE与未来更大规模的中微子实验联系起来，对该领域产生更广泛的影响。该研究奖学金将为PI提供新中微子探测技术的专业知识，并使PI能够长期维持他在实验中微子物理学方面的职业生涯。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The Accelerator Neutrino Neutron Interaction Experiment (ANNIE) is a 26-ton gadolinium-doped water Cherenkov detector at the Fermilab Booster Neutrino Beam, small by particle physics standards but with big ambitions. The goal is to develop a next-generation neutrino detector using advanced photosensors and new experimental techniques while making important measurements to understand neutrino-nucleus interactions. The ANNIE result will have a direct impact on the reduction of the systematic uncertainties and the improvement of the signal-background discrimination in future large neutrino detectors, which is essential for long-baseline oscillation physics, proton decay searches, and supernova detection. The proposed research will develop new analysis algorithms to improve the neutrino detection capability in ANNIE and perform fundamental simulations and tests to explore the physics potential beyond the current phase. The fellowship will advance the collaboration between South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (SD Mines) and Fermilab. It will also provide comprehensive training for the PI and a graduate student to enhance the group's research capability in developing next-generation neutrino detectors. The results of the research will significantly advance knowledge and understanding of new technologies for neutrino detection.ANNIE will perform several fundamental tests of new technologies to be used in neutrino detectors, such as a novel kind of photodetectors called Large-Area Picosecond PhotoDetector (LAPPD) and Water-based Liquid Scintillator (WbLS) that is a newly-developed detection medium. The technology behind the ANNIE detector will have a high impact on the development of future large water Cherenkov detectors as well as on detection techniques for neutrino physics. This fellowship supports the PI and a graduate student to visit Fermilab for six months to work closely with their ANNIE collaborators onsite at Fermilab. The proposed research aims at (1) developing analysis algorithms to push the ANNIE detector to its full potential demonstrating its promise for future experiments, (2) testing a new neutrino detection medium WbLS by deploying a target vessel into the existing water tank, and (3) performing simulations to investigate the feasibility of measuring the number of final state neutrons from neutrino-argon interaction using the ANNIE infrastructure. The proposed research will deliver an optimized fast-timing-based reconstruction package to facilitate the physics analysis and explore the ANNIE's potential beyond the current phase. The WbLS deployment and the feasibility study of liquid argon target deployment connect ANNIE to future larger-scale neutrino experiments with broader impacts on the field. This research fellowship would provide the PI with expertise on new neutrino detection technologies and enable the PI to sustain his career in experimental neutrino physics in the long term.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.