First search for an anomalous excess of charged-current νe​ interactions without visible pions using the full MicroBooNE dataset

UNSPECIFIED (2024) First search for an anomalous excess of charged-current νe​ interactions without visible pions using the full MicroBooNE dataset. Other. UNSPECIFIED.

Abstract

This public note presents an investigation of low-energy electron-neutrino events in the Fermilab Booster Neutrino Beam by the MicroBooNE experiment. This search is motivated by the excess of low energy electromagnetic events observed by the MiniBooNE experiment and, more broadly, by the landscape of neutrino anomalies observed at short baselines. This is the first measurement to use all of the data collected by the MicroBooNE experiment, corresponding to 1.1×10211.1×1021 protons on target. Two exclusive samples of electron neutrinos without visible pions are used, one with visible protons and one without any visible protons. MicroBooNE data is compared to two empirical models of the MiniBooNE low energy excess, one obtained by enhancing the electron-neutrino content as a function of the neutrino energy, and one representing the excess for the first time as a function of the kinematics of shower energy and angle. This measurement excludes an electron-like interpretation of the MiniBooNE excess based on these models at ≥99%≥99% confidence level in all kinematic variables.