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Creators/Authors contains: "Bhatnagar, V"

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  1. Double- and single-differential cross sections for inclusive charged-current ν μ -nucleus scattering are reported for the kinematic domain 0 to 2 GeV / c in three-momentum transfer and 0 to 2 GeV in available energy, at a mean ν μ energy of 1.86 GeV. The measurements are based on an estimated 995,760 ν μ charged-current (CC) interactions in the scintillator medium of the NOvA Near Detector. The subdomain populated by 2-particle-2-hole (2p2h) reactions is identified by the cross section excess relative to predictions for ν μ -nucleus scattering that are constrained by a data control sample. Models for 2-particle-2-hole processes are rated by χ 2 comparisons of the predicted-versus-measured ν μ CC inclusive cross section over the full phase space and in the restricted subdomain. Shortfalls are observed in neutrino generator predictions obtained using the theory-based València and SuSAv2 2p2h models. Published by the American Physical Society2025 
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    Free, publicly-accessible full text available March 1, 2026
  2. We report a search for neutrino oscillations to sterile neutrinos under a model with three active and one sterile neutrinos ( 3 + 1 model). This analysis uses the NOvA detectors exposed to the NuMI beam, running in neutrino mode. The data exposure, 13.6 × 10 20 protons on target, doubles that previously analyzed by NOvA, and the analysis is the first to use ν μ charged-current interactions in conjunction with neutral-current interactions. Neutrino samples in the near and far detectors are fitted simultaneously, enabling the search to be carried out over a Δ m 41 2 range extending 2 (3) orders of magnitude above (below) 1 eV 2 . NOvA finds no evidence for active-to-sterile neutrino oscillations under the 3 + 1 model at 90% confidence level. New limits are reported in multiple regions of parameter space, excluding some regions currently allowed by IceCube at 90% confidence level. We additionally set the most stringent limits for anomalous ν τ appearance for Δ m 41 2 3 eV 2 . Published by the American Physical Society2025 
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    Free, publicly-accessible full text available February 1, 2026
  3. Abstract Measuring observables to constrain models using maximum-likelihood estimation is fundamental to many physics experiments. Wilks' theorem provides a simple way to construct confidence intervals on model parameters, but it only applies under certain conditions. These conditions, such as nested hypotheses and unbounded parameters, are often violated in neutrino oscillation measurements and other experimental scenarios. Monte Carlo methods can address these issues, albeit at increased computational cost. In the presence of nuisance parameters, however, the best way to implement a Monte Carlo method is ambiguous. This paper documents the method selected by the NOvA experiment, the profile construction. It presents the toy studies that informed the choice of method, details of its implementation, and tests performed to validate it. It also includes some practical considerations which may be of use to others choosing to use the profile construction. 
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    Free, publicly-accessible full text available February 1, 2026
  4. This Letter reports a search for charge-parity ( C P ) symmetry violating nonstandard interactions (NSI) of neutrinos with matter using the NOvA Experiment, and examines their effects on the determination of the standard oscillation parameters. Data from ν μ ( ν ¯ μ ) ν μ ( ν ¯ μ ) and ν μ ( ν ¯ μ ) ν e ( ν ¯ e ) oscillation channels are used to measure the effect of the NSI parameters ϵ e μ and ϵ e τ . With 90% CL the magnitudes of the NSI couplings are constrained to be | ϵ e μ | 0.3 and | ϵ e τ | 0.4 . A degeneracy at | ϵ e τ | 1.8 is reported, and we observe that the presence of NSI limits sensitivity to the standard C P phase δ C P . Published by the American Physical Society2024 
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    Free, publicly-accessible full text available November 1, 2025
  5. NOvA is a long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment that measures oscillations in charged-current ν μ ν μ (disappearance) and ν μ ν e (appearance) channels, and their antineutrino counterparts, using neutrinos of energies around 2 GeV over a distance of 810 km. In this work we reanalyze the dataset first examined in our previous paper [] using an alternative statistical approach based on Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo. We measure oscillation parameters consistent with the previous results. We also extend our inferences to include the first NOvA measurements of the reactor mixing angle θ 13 , where we find 0.071 sin 2 2 θ 13 0.107 , and the Jarlskog invariant, where we observe no significant preference for the C P -conserving value J = 0 over values favoring C P violation. We use these results to examine the effects of constraints from short-baseline measurements of θ 13 using antineutrinos from nuclear reactors when making NOvA measurements of θ 23 . Our long-baseline measurement of θ 13 is shown to be consistent with the reactor measurements, supporting the general applicability and robustness of the Pontecorvo-Maki-Nakagawa-Sakata framework for neutrino oscillations. Published by the American Physical Society2024 
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  6. Abstract The Pandora Software Development Kit and algorithm libraries perform reconstruction of neutrino interactions in liquid argon time projection chamber detectors. Pandora is the primary event reconstruction software used at the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment, which will operate four large-scale liquid argon time projection chambers at the far detector site in South Dakota, producing high-resolution images of charged particles emerging from neutrino interactions. While these high-resolution images provide excellent opportunities for physics, the complex topologies require sophisticated pattern recognition capabilities to interpret signals from the detectors as physically meaningful objects that form the inputs to physics analyses. A critical component is the identification of the neutrino interaction vertex. Subsequent reconstruction algorithms use this location to identify the individual primary particles and ensure they each result in a separate reconstructed particle. A new vertex-finding procedure described in this article integrates a U-ResNet neural network performing hit-level classification into the multi-algorithm approach used by Pandora to identify the neutrino interaction vertex. The machine learning solution is seamlessly integrated into a chain of pattern-recognition algorithms. The technique substantially outperforms the previous BDT-based solution, with a more than 20% increase in the efficiency of sub-1 cm vertex reconstruction across all neutrino flavours. 
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    Free, publicly-accessible full text available June 1, 2026
  7. We report an improved measurement of the valence u and d quark distributions from the forward-backward asymmetry in the Drell-Yan process using 8.6 fb 1 of data collected with the D0 detector in p p ¯ collisions at s = 1.96 . This analysis provides the values of new structure parameters that are directly related to the valence up and down quark distributions in the proton. In other experimental results measuring the quark content of the proton, d quark contributions are mixed with those from other quark flavors. In this measurement, the u and d quark contributions are separately extracted by applying a factorization of the QCD and electroweak portions of the forward-backward asymmetry. Published by the American Physical Society2024 
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    Free, publicly-accessible full text available November 1, 2025
  8. A<sc>bstract</sc> A search for beyond-the-standard-model neutral Higgs bosons decaying to a pair of bottom quarks, and produced in association with at least one additional bottom quark, is performed with the CMS detector. The data were recorded in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV at the CERN LHC and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 36.7–126.9 fb−1, depending on the probed mass range. No signal above the standard model background expectation is observed. Upper limits on the production cross section times branching fraction are set for Higgs bosons in the mass range of 125–1800 GeV. The results are interpreted in benchmark scenarios of the minimal supersymmetric standard model, as well as suitable classes of two-Higgs-doublet models. 
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    Free, publicly-accessible full text available June 1, 2026
  9. PRD (Ed.)
    A search for heavy neutral gauge bosons ( Z ) decaying into a pair of tau leptons is performed in proton-proton collisions at s = 13 TeV at the CERN LHC. The data were collected with the CMS detector and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb 1 . The observations are found to be in agreement with the expectation from standard model processes. Limits at 95% confidence level are set on the product of the Z production cross section and its branching fraction to tau lepton pairs for a range of Z boson masses. For a narrow resonance in the sequential standard model scenario, a Z boson with a mass below 3.5 TeV is excluded. This is the most stringent limit to date from this type of search. © 2025 CERN, for the CMS Collaboration2025CERN 
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    Free, publicly-accessible full text available June 1, 2026
  10. The determination of the direction of a stellar core collapse via its neutrino emission is crucial for the identification of the progenitor for a multimessenger follow-up. A highly effective method of reconstructing supernova directions within the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) is introduced. The supernova neutrino pointing resolution is studied by simulating and reconstructing electron-neutrino charged-current absorption on Ar 40 and elastic scattering of neutrinos on electrons. Procedures to reconstruct individual interactions, including a newly developed technique called “brems flipping,” as well as the burst direction from an ensemble of interactions are described. Performance of the burst direction reconstruction is evaluated for supernovae happening at a distance of 10 kpc for a specific supernova burst flux model. The pointing resolution is found to be 3.4 degrees at 68% coverage for a perfect interaction-channel classification and a fiducial mass of 40 kton, and 6.6 degrees for a 10 kton fiducial mass respectively. Assuming a 4% rate of charged-current interactions being misidentified as elastic scattering, DUNE’s burst pointing resolution is found to be 4.3 degrees (8.7 degrees) at 68% coverage. Published by the American Physical Society2025 
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    Free, publicly-accessible full text available May 1, 2026