R. T. Thornton
A5064022717- Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies
- Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena
- Neutrino Physics Research
- Particle Detector Development and Performance
- Atomic and Subatomic Physics Research
- Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena
- Radiation Detection and Scintillator Technologies
- Nuclear Physics and Applications
- Nuclear reactor physics and engineering
- Computational Physics and Python Applications
- Particle accelerators and beam dynamics
- Particle Accelerators and Free-Electron Lasers
- Muon and positron interactions and applications
- Quantum, superfluid, helium dynamics
- Quantum Chromodynamics and Particle Interactions
- Superconducting Materials and Applications
- X-ray Spectroscopy and Fluorescence Analysis
- CCD and CMOS Imaging Sensors
- Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit Design
- Silicon Carbide Semiconductor Technologies
- Sensor Technology and Measurement Systems
- Electromagnetic Compatibility and Measurements
- Injection Molding Process and Properties
- Photocathodes and Microchannel Plates
- Radio Astronomy Observations and Technology
Los Alamos National Laboratory
1999-2025
Indiana University Bloomington
2014-2021
Los Alamos Medical Center
2021
Indiana University
2018-2020
Abilene Christian University
2013-2018
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
2018
The coherent elastic scattering of neutrinos off nuclei has eluded detection for four decades, even though its predicted cross section is by far the largest all low-energy neutrino couplings. This mode interaction offers new opportunities to study properties and leads a miniaturization detector size, with potential technological applications. We observed this process at 6.7σ confidence level, using low-background, 14.6-kilogram CsI[Na] scintillator exposed emissions from Spallation Neutron...
The MiniBooNE experiment at Fermilab reports results from an analysis of $\nu_e$ appearance data $12.84 \times 10^{20}$ protons on target in neutrino mode, increase approximately a factor two over previously reported results. A charged-current quasielastic event excess $381.2 \pm 85.2$ events ($4.5 \sigma$) is observed the energy range $200<E_\nu^{QE}<1250$~MeV. Combining these with $\bar \nu_e$ $11.27 antineutrino total plus $460.5 99.0$ ($4.7 observed. If interpreted two-neutrino...
We report the first measurement of coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CEvNS) on argon using a liquid detector at Oak Ridge National Laboratory Spallation Neutron Source. Two independent analyses prefer CEvNS over background-only null hypothesis with greater than $3\ensuremath{\sigma}$ significance. The measured cross section, averaged incident neutrino flux, is $(2.2\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.7)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}39}\text{ }\text{...
The MiniBooNE experiment at Fermilab reports a total excess of $638.0\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}52.1(\mathrm{stat}.)\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}122.2(\mathrm{syst}.)$ electronlike events from data sample corresponding to $18.75\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{20}$ protons-on-target in neutrino mode, which is 46% increase the with respect previously published results and $11.27\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{20}$ antineutrino mode. overall significance excess,...
A search for sub-GeV dark matter produced from collisions of the Fermilab 8 GeV Booster protons with a steel beam dump was performed by MiniBooNE-DM Collaboration using data $1.86\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{20}$ on target in dedicated run. The MiniBooNE detector, consisting 818 tons mineral oil and located 490 meters downstream dump, is sensitive to variety initiated scattering reactions. Three interactions are considered this analysis: elastic off nucleons, inelastic neutral...
The MiniBooNE-DM Collaboration searched for vector-boson mediated production of dark matter using the Fermilab 8-GeV Booster proton beam in a dedicated run with 1.86×10^{20} protons delivered to steel dump. MiniBooNE detector, 490 m downstream, is sensitive via elastic scattering nucleons detector mineral oil. Analysis methods developed previous results were employed, and several constraining data sets simultaneously analyzed minimize systematic errors from neutrino flux interaction rates....
This paper describes the operation of Coherent CAPTAIN-Mills (CCM) detector located at Los Alamos Neutron Science Center National Laboratory. CCM is a 10-ton liquid argon 20 meters from high flux neutron/neutrino source and designed to search for sterile neutrinos (${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{s}$'s) light dark matter (LDM). An engineering run was performed in fall 2019 study characteristics CCM120 by searching coherent scattering signals consistent with ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{s}$'s LDM resulting...
The COHERENT experiment is well poised to test sub-GeV dark matter models using low-energy recoil detectors sensitive coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CEvNS) in the $\pi$-DAR neutrino beam produced by Spallation Neutron Source. We show how a planned 750-kg liquid argon scintillation detector would place leading limits on scalar light models, over two orders of magnitude mass, for particles through vector and leptophobic portals absence other effects beyond standard model....
We point out that production of new bosons by charged meson decays can greatly enhance the sensitivity beam-focused accelerator-based experiments to physics signals. This enhancement arises since mesons are focused and their three-body do not suffer from helicity suppression in same way as usual two-body decays. As a realistic application, we attempt explain MiniBooNE low energy excess utilizing this overlooked mechanism, uniquely realizing dark-sector interpretations plausible solutions...
In Aguilar-Arevalo [], we explored various effective field theories that could explain the MiniBooNE excess involving long-lived particles produced from charged meson decays and sensitivity of Coherent CAPTAIN Mills experiment to these models. this addendum, extend analysis project upcoming MicroBooNE data particle models considered in previous work. We find a dedicated single photon final state with longer exposure improved signal efficiency will be sensitive new physics explanations...
We present an experimental method for measuring the process of coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CENNS). This uses a detector situated transverse to high-energy neutrino beam production target. would be sensitive low-energy neutrinos arising from decay-at-rest pions in discuss physics motivation making this measurement and outline predicted backgrounds sensitivities using approach. report neutron as found off-axis surface location Fermilab Booster Neutrino Beam (BNB) The results...
This Letter presents the results from MiniBooNE experiment within a full "3+1" scenario where one sterile neutrino is introduced to three-active-neutrino picture. In addition electron-neutrino appearance at short baselines, this also allows for disappearance of muon-neutrino and fluxes in Booster Neutrino Beam, which shared by MicroBooNE experiment. We present 3+1 fit electron-(anti)neutrino muon-(anti)neutrino data alone combination with data. The best-fit parameters combined exclusive...
Coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CEvNS) is the dominant neutrino channel for neutrinos of energy $E_\nu < 100$ MeV. We report a limit this process using data collected in an engineering run 29 kg CENNS-10 liquid argon detector located 27.5 m from Oak Ridge National Laboratory Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) Hg target with $4.2\times 10^{22}$ protons on target. The dataset yielded $< 7.4$ observed CEvNS events implying cross section process, averaged over SNS pion decay-at-rest...
We report the first results of a search for leptophobic dark matter (DM) from Coherent-CAPTAIN-Mills (CCM) liquid argon (LAr) detector. An engineering run with 120 photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) and 17.9×10^{20} protons on target (POT) was performed in fall 2019 to study characteristics CCM The operation this 10-ton detector strictly light based threshold 50 keV used coherent elastic scattering off nuclei detect DM. Despite only 1.5 months accumulated luminosity, contaminated LAr, nonoptimized...
We show results from the Coherent CAPTAIN Mills (CCM) 2019 engineering run which begin to constrain regions of parameter space for axion-like particles (ALPs) produced in electromagnetic particle showers an 800 MeV proton beam dump, and further investigate sensitivity ongoing data-taking campaigns CCM200 upgraded detector. Based on beam-on background estimates run, we make realistic extrapolations reduction based expected shielding improvements, reduced width, analysis-based techniques...
We report the first measurement of monoenergetic muon neutrino charged current interactions. MiniBooNE has isolated 236 MeV events originating from kaon decay at rest (K^{+}→μ^{+}ν_{μ}) NuMI beamline absorber. These signal ν_{μ}-carbon are distinguished primarily pion in flight ν_{μ} and ν[over ¯]_{μ} backgrounds produced target station pipe using their arrival time reconstructed energy. The significance observation is 3.9σ level. kinetic energy, neutrino-nucleus energy transfer...
A solution to the MiniBooNE excess invoking rare three-body decays of charged pions and kaons new states in MeV mass scale was recently proposed as a dark-sector explanation. This class illuminates fact that, while were focused target-mode run, their decay products isotropically suppressed beam-dump-mode run which no observed. suggests physics correlated mesonic sector. We investigate an extended set phenomenological models that can explain dark sector solution, utilizing long-lived...
A scanning, ultraviolet, Raman water vapor lidar designed primarily for boundary layer measurements has been built and operated by the Los Alamos National Laboratory Ground-Based Earth Observing Network team. The system provides high temporal spatial resolution of atmosphere within above atmospheric (ABL). Several examples types data collected techniques processing are presented. typical horizontal range is approximately 700 m when while vertical with photon counting can be up to 12 km...