Neutrino energy estimation in neutral current interactions and prospects for sterile neutrino searches

Modern neutrino detectors, particularly the large liquid argon time projection chambers (LAr TPCs) at SBN and DUNE, provide an unprecedented amount of information about GeV-scale interactions. By taking advantage of the excellent spatial and calorimetric resolution as well as the low tracking thresholds provided by LAr TPCs, we present a novel method of estimating the neutrino energy in neutral current interactions. This method has potential implications for the search for a sterile neutrino; it allows for the potential observation of spectral distortions due to sterile neutrino-induced oscillations in the neutral current neutrino energy spectrum. As an example, we use this method to perform an analysis of the statistics-only sensitivity to sterile neutrinos in the neutral current channel at SBN under a 3 + 1 model.

Automated summary

Modern neutrino detectors, such as large liquid argon time projection chambers at SBN and DUNE, provide valuable information about GeV-scale interactions. A novel method for estimating neutrino energy in neutral current interactions has been proposed, with potential implications for observing spectral distortions due to sterile neutrino-induced oscillations. Using this method, a statistical analysis of the sensitivity to sterile neutrinos in the neutral current channel at SBN under a 3 + 1 model was performed.