Observation of a first ${\nu }_{\tau }$ candidate in the OPERA experiment in the CNGS beam

Abstract

The OPERA neutrino detector in the underground Gran Sasso Laboratory (LNGS) has been designed to perform the first detection of neutrino oscillations in direct appearance mode through the study of the ${\nu }_{\mu }\to {\nu }_{\tau }$ channel. The hybrid apparatus consists of an emulsion/lead target complemented by electronic detectors and it is placed in the high energy long-baseline CERN to LNGS beam (CNGS) 730 km away from the neutrino source. Runs with CNGS neutrinos were successfully carried out in 2008 and 2009. After a brief description of the beam, the experimental setup and the procedures used for the analysis of the neutrino events, we describe the topology and kinematics of a first candidate ${\nu }_{\tau }$ charged-current event satisfying the kinematical selection criteria. The background calculations and their cross-check are explained in detail and the significance of the event is assessed.

arXiv comment19 pages, 3 figures

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• Unsolved problems in particle physics
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• Not Only Because of Theory: Dyson, Eddington and the Competing Myths of the 1919 Eclipse Expedition
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• Large-scale calculations of supernova neutrino-induced reactions in Z=8-82 target nuclei
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• Counting muons to probe the neutrino mass spectrum
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• The neutrino velocity anomaly as an explanation of the missing observation of neutrinos in coincidence with GRB
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• A first search of excited states double beta and double electron capture decays of Pd110 and Pd102
• Learning from tau appearance
• An infrared origin of leptonic mixing and its test at DeepCore
• First observation of a tau neutrino charged current interaction with charm production in the Opera experiment
• Neutron-neutral particle mixing and its observable consequences
• Isospin Violating Dark Matter Search by Nuclear Emulsion Detector
• The SHiP experiment and the RPC technology
• Exploring the likelihood of CP violation in neutrino oscillations
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• Neutrino Oscillations in the Three Flavor Paradigm
• SND@LHC: The Scattering and Neutrino Detector at the LHC
• Directional Search for Isospin-Violating Dark Matter with Nuclear Emulsion