Sensitivity of the upgraded T2K Near Detector to constrain neutrino and antineutrino interactions with no mesons in the final state by exploiting nucleon-lepton correlations

The most challenging and impactful uncertainties that future accelerator-based measurements of neutrino oscillations must overcome stem from our limited ability to model few-GeV neutrino-nucleus interactions. In particular, it is crucial to better understand the nuclear effects which can alter the final state topology and kinematics of neutrino interactions, inducing possible biases in neutrino energy reconstruction. The upgraded ND280 near detector of the T2K experiment will directly confront neutrino interaction uncertainties using a new suite of detectors with full polar angle acceptance, improved spatial resolutions, neutron detection capabilities and reduced tracking thresholds. In this manuscript we explore the physics sensitivity that can be expected from the upgraded detector, specifically focusing on the additional sensitivity to nuclear effects and how they can be constrained with future measurements of kinematic variables constructed using both outgoing lepton and nucleon kinematics.

Automated summary

Future accelerator-based measurements of neutrino oscillations face challenges in modeling few-GeV neutrino-nucleus interactions. The upgraded ND280 detector of the T2K experiment aims to overcome these uncertainties by directly confronting neutrino interaction uncertainties and improving the sensitivity to nuclear effects.