Events at Physics

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Monday, August 22nd, 2022

No events scheduled

Tuesday, August 23rd, 2022

Thesis Defense
Sterile Neutrino Search with the NOvA Detectors
Time: 9:00 am
Place: Chamberlin 4274
Speaker: Harry Hausner , Physics PhD Graduate Student
Abstract: NOvA is a two detector experiment designed to observe neutrino oscillations from $\nu\mu$ to $\nu_e$ flavor states. Additionally, the location of the NOvA Near Detector is well situated to additionally observe short baseline oscillations to sterile neutrino states. We expand upon previous NOvA sterile neutrino searches by using a covariance matrix fitting technique. This analysis is the first with NOvA to directly include neutrino interactions in the Near Detector while fitting the data. The NOvA Near Detector's greater statistics to better constrain our Far Detector uncertainties in addition to increasing the range of $\Delta m^2{41}$ to which we are sensitive.

Host: Brian Rebel

Wednesday, August 24th, 2022

Physics Summer Fun
Weekly Recess
Time: 12:30 pm
Place: Bascom Hill or 5310 Chamberlin Hall
Speaker: Sharon Kahn
Abstract: We hope you’ll take a 20-30 minute break on (some/all) Wednesdays this summer (12:30-1pm) to come play together! For nice days, we’ve arranged to borrow some lawn games from the L&S dean’s office and will likely bring along a frisbee and/or a hackeysack, too. Meet us on Bascom Hill (between Birge/South Hall).
In case of rain, we’ll meet indoors (5310 CH) for board games. Feel free to come play or just hang out!
Thesis Defense
Measuring the Atmospheric Neutrino Oscillation Parameters with IceCube DeepCore
Time: 1:00 pm
Place: Chamberlin 4274
Speaker: Kayla DeHolton , Physics PhD Graduate Student
Abstract: TBD
Host: Francis Halzen

Thursday, August 25th, 2022

Thesis Defense
A Few New Techniques for Probing IceCube Data and a Search for High Energy Atmospheric Neutrinos
Time: 2:00 pm
Place:
Speaker: Bunheng Ty, Physics PhD Graduate Student
Abstract: The idea of characterizing an IceCube event by its location and magnitude of maximum photon density is proven useful. A complete set of new filter tools built around this idea is successfully developed and used to detect high-energy neutrino interactions inside IceCube. The two key features to search for are: a highly localized deposit of photoelectrons, and a lack of a veto track leading up to it. The first is achieved reliably by counting photoelectrons making up the most photon-dense region of the event. The second is achieved with moving cylinders (160 m radius, 240 m half-height, 0.3 m/ns speed), one at each possible direction from the sky, collecting any DOM forming a muon track pattern with the region. In addition to the traditional true starting events, this new approach allows, for the first time, a direct search for the self-veto events of the atmospheric neutrinos. The no-veto condition is loosened to allow up to a very small veto, just enough to be still outside the region of the atmopsheric muon background. The final selection consists of 23 events, one of which is a self-veto event of 134 TeV Millipede reconstructed energy. This data, though limited, shows a measurable contribution of the atmospheric component to the neutrino flux at the high energies. A lower bound estimate is given for the atmospheric contribution to IceCube’s HESE sample to be at least at the level of 1 percent.
Host: Kael Hanson

Time: 4:00 pm