Muon-Induced Background Study for an Argon-Based Long Baseline Neutrino Experiment

Abstract

We evaluated rates of transversing muons, muon-induced fast neutrons, and production of ${}^{40}$Cl and other cosmogenically produced nuclei that pose as potential sources of background to the physics program proposed for an argon-based long baseline neutrino experiment at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF). The Geant4 simulations were carried out with muons and muon-induced neutrons for both 800 ft (0.712 km.w.e.) and 4850 ft levels (4.3 km.w.e.). We developed analytic models to independently calculate the ${}^{40}$Cl production using the measured muon fluxes at different levels of the Homestake mine. The muon induced ${}^{40}$Cl production rates through stopped muon capture and the muon-induced neutrons and protons via (n,p) and (p,n) reactions were evaluated. We find that the Monte Carlo simulated production rates of ${}^{40}$Cl agree well with the predictions from analytic models. A depth-dependent parametrization was developed and benchmarked to the direct analytic models. We conclude that the muon-induced processes will result in large backgrounds to the physics proposed for an argon-based long baseline neutrino experiment at a depth of less than 4.0 km.w.e.

12 pages, 15 figures

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• Cosmogenic activation in double beta decay experiments
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