Neutrino and Beyond Standard Model Physics Searches at the CERN ProtoDUNE Detectors
Abstract
Parallel talk presented at the XXI International Workshop on Neutrino Telescopes - Padova 29 September - 3 October 2025 (https://agenda.infn.it/event/44606/) On behalf of the Dune Collaboration Abstract: Neutrino beams directed at liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC) detectors is a promising means of searching for beyond Standard Model (BSM) physics, such as heavy neutral leptons. The CERN Neutrino Platform hosts two full-scale LArTPC prototypes (the ProtoDUNE detectors) that are proving the technology to be deployed by the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE). Recent studies indicate that these prototypes could also have the potential to detect long-lived BSM particles from one of the targets (T2) in CERN’s north area that is exposed to the 400 GeV SPS beam. In addition, the prototypes are expected to observe a substantial flux of neutrinos from the SPS beam, which would be a source of background in any BSM search. Detecting these neutrinos is therefore a key demonstration of the feasibility of any future BSM program. A sample of high-energy neutrino events may also be of broader use to the DUNE collaboration. For example, by testing the performance of reconstruction algorithms on highly energetic neutrino interactions. This talk will highlight the status of our analysis and prospects for establishing a BSM physics program at the CERN Neutrino Platform.
Full text
1. 30/09/2025 Ciaran Hasnip | NuTel 2025 Neutrino and Beyond Standard Model Physics Searches at the CERN ProtoDUNE Detectors Ciaran Hasnip, CERN On behalf of the DUNE Collaboration NuTel 2025 30/09/2025 [email protected]
2. 30/09/2025 Ciaran Hasnip | NuTel 2025 Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) Observe 𝜈𝜇→ 𝜈𝜇 , 𝜈𝜇→ 𝜈𝑒 , ҧ𝜈𝜇→ ҧ𝜈𝜇 and ҧ𝜈𝜇→ ҧ𝜈𝑒 Measure 𝛿𝐶𝑃, Δ𝑚32 2, 𝜃23, 𝜃13, mass ordering 40 kt fiducial mass LArTPCs at far detector (FD)! •See DUNE plenary talk by David Rivera on Thursday for more details
3. 30/09/2025 Ciaran Hasnip | NuTel 2025 ProtoDUNE at CERN Neutrino Platform •Two large prototypes of the DUNE FD at CERN Neutrino Platform •Built to test LArTPC detector technology for the DUNE FD and measure hadron-Ar cross section measurements ProtoDUNE-HD ProtoDUNE-VD
4. 30/09/2025 Ciaran Hasnip | NuTel 2025 Neutrinos and BSM Physics in ProtoDUNE •New idea: search for neutrinos and beyond-standard model (BSM) particles at ProtoDUNE from the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS) •Details of proposal and estimated physics sensitivity of a ProtoDUNE BSM search published: J. High Energ. Phys. 2024, 134 (2024) •ProtoDUNE becomes a beam-dump experiment – common way to search for weakly interacting long-lived particles or neutrinos 𝛎 𝛎 𝛎 𝛘?
5. 30/09/2025 Ciaran Hasnip | NuTel 2025 Beam-Dump Experiment •A beam (usually protons) hitting a fixed target is a common way to produce neutrinos – or possibly something more exotic (e.g. Heavy Neutral Lepton) •Pions, kaons etc. are produced in the target – decay downstream to neutrinos/BSM •Place a detector in path of the neutrinos/BSM to try and observe them
6. 30/09/2025 Ciaran Hasnip | NuTel 2025 Beam-Dump Experiment How can the ProtoDUNE detectors be a beam-dump experiment?
7. 30/09/2025 Ciaran Hasnip | NuTel 2025 CERN SPS and Neutrino Platform 400 GeV SPS Protons T2 Target Facility Neutrino Platform •CERN SPS beam accelerates protons to 400 GeV •SPS protons hit the “T2” target •Protons hitting T2 are aligned in the direction of the Neutrino Platform
8. 30/09/2025 Ciaran Hasnip | NuTel 2025 The T2 Beamline 400 GeV SPS Protons T2 Target Facility Neutrino Platform NP04/ProtoDUNE-HD NP02/ProtoDUNE-VD T2 Beamline ~700m Neutrino Platform Top View
9. 30/09/2025 Ciaran Hasnip | NuTel 2025 The T2 beamline 720 m •We have a 670-720m beamline (VD or HD ProtoDUNE) – neutrinos/BSM produced in T2 or downstream dump (TAX) J. High Energ. Phys. 2024, 134 (2024) These magnets change!
16. 30/09/2025 Ciaran Hasnip | NuTel 2025 First Neutrino Candidates in Data •Here is an identified neutrino candidate •Identified by initial eye-scanning process by CERN Student Dario Pullia •Real data taken when the SPS beam spill was on •Forward-going shower with vertex within fiducial volume Deposited energy in ROI ~ 39 GeV 𝝁 Real data in ProtoDUNE-HD Represents a top-down view
17. 30/09/2025 Ciaran Hasnip | NuTel 2025 First Neutrino Candidates in Data •Here is another identified neutrino candidate •Identified by initial eye-scanning process by CERN Student Dario Pullia •Real data taken when the SPS beam spill was on •Forward-going shower with vertex within fiducial volume Deposited energy in ROI ~ 39 GeV Real data in ProtoDUNE-HD Represents a top-down view
18. 30/09/2025 Ciaran Hasnip | NuTel 2025 Data Processing to Reconstruction •End-to-end data processing implemented •Data has been reconstructed with Pandora – analysis with cut-based neutrino selection near completion Real Pandora Reconstructed Data
19. 30/09/2025 Ciaran Hasnip | NuTel 2025 Neutrino MC Event Simulation •Neutrino flux passed to GENIE - neutrino interactions in a G4 model of ProtoDUNE-HD •Thousands of interactions in active volume per week Magnet Conf. J. Hernandez Garcia
20. 30/09/2025 Ciaran Hasnip | NuTel 2025 Neutrino MC Event Simulation •Neutrino flux passed to GENIE - neutrino interactions in a G4 model of ProtoDUNE-HD •Simulated neutrinos with cosmic overlay reconstructed with Pandora 𝝂𝝁
21. 30/09/2025 Ciaran Hasnip | NuTel 2025 Estimate Rate of Triggering Neutrinos with Simulation •Simulation has realistic detector and trigger simulation •Estimate proportion of neutrinos we trigger for •Same trigger algorithm simulated as used for data •Achieve ~24% trigger efficiency for 𝝂 and E > 10 GeV •~1400 triggering neutrinos per week with this magnet configuration
22. 30/09/2025 Ciaran Hasnip | NuTel 2025 Analysis Strategy for ProtoDUNE-HD Can we remove most cosmic background? Can we efficiently select neutrinos? Neutrinos become background – can we remove them? Can we select BSM signatures? Physics! •Trigger due to a cosmic muon 1-2 times per second •Trigger due to neutrino once every few minutes (depending on magnet configuration) •First remove dominant cosmic background •Measure our cosmic background rate from our Spill OFF data
23. 30/09/2025 Ciaran Hasnip | NuTel 2025 •Fortunately, neutrinos look quite different from most cosmics •Event selection aims to show an excess of beam-aligned high-energy showers arising from a vertex •Selection also under development to distinguish HNL decays from neutrinos 𝝂𝝁 Analysis Strategy for ProtoDUNE-HD
24. 30/09/2025 Ciaran Hasnip | NuTel 2025 Looking to the Future – Vertical Drift •Argon has been moved to ProtoDUNE-VD and is taking data now! •Investigate searching for neutrinos/BSM physics in NP02 •Take data whilst the SPS is on •Simulate neutrinos to estimate the rate •Event selection to search for beam-aligned showers from a vertex
25. 30/09/2025 Ciaran Hasnip | NuTel 2025 Looking to the Future – Vertical Drift •Neutrino flux simulation repeated for ProtoDUNE-VD •Similar position off-axis, but fiducial volume ~70% the size of ProtoDUNE-HD •Still estimating thousands of interaction in active detector volume per week of SPS beam •Expect similar trigger efficiency •Developing an upgraded ML-based trigger algorithm
32. 30/09/2025 Ciaran Hasnip | NuTel 2025 Data Processing Procedure Produce Boolean flag for Spill ON/OFF Trigger raw decoder (get TP/A/C in art format) Filter to remove ground shakes TPC raw decoder (get RawDigits) Timing raw decoder (get RDTimeStamps) Noise removal, hit finding, pandora … Raw Data Reconstructed Data Final •End-to-end data processing implemented and running through to fully reconstructed events •Reconstruction uses FD neutrino pandora + PD-HD cosmic tagging •Produce a flag for whether SPS spill was ON/OFF •Filter for ground shake removal •1 week of data processed to reconstruction and cut-based analysis on-going