Calculation of Atmospheric Neutrino-Induced Backgrounds in a Nucleon-Decay Search

1986145 citationsJournal Article

Authors

T. J. Haines · University of California, Irvine

R. M. Bionta · University of California, Irvine

Geoffrey Blewitt · University of California, Irvine

C. B. Bratton · University of California, Irvine

D. Casper · University of California, Irvine

R. Claus · University of California, Irvine

B. G. Cortez

Abstract

We have developed an extensive model of atmospheric $\ensuremath{\nu}$ interactions which provide the backgrounds to nucleon-decay experiments. We report results from a 417-live-day exposure of the Irvine-Michigan-Brookhaven detector. During this time 401 contained events were observed at a rate and with characteristics consistent with atmospheric $\ensuremath{\nu}$ interactions. We have calculated the expected backgrounds to a variety of two- and three-body decay modes and have set lower limits on many nucleon partial lifetimes.

Topics & Keywords

Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies Neutrino Physics Research Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena

Publication Details

Published in: Physical Review Letters

Volume 57, Issue 16, pp. 1986-1989

DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.57.1986

Field-Weighted Citation Impact: 7.60

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Calculation of Atmospheric Neutrino-Induced Backgrounds in a Nucleon-Decay Search

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Abstract

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Publication Details