Constraining the T2K Neutrino Flux Prediction with 2009 NA61/SHINE Replica-Target Data

Abstract

Accurate modelling of the T2K neutrino flux is crucial for a better understanding of neutrino interactions at the near and far detectors. Most of T2K neutrinos are created through in-flight decays of unstable hadrons, produced by interactions of 31 GeV/c protons in a long graphite target (90 cm). External hadron production data is used for correcting the flux model. The analysis presented here uses a new NA61 dataset, collected in 2009 using the full length replica of the T2K target. The preliminary results suggest a reduction of the hadronic interaction component of the neutrino flux uncertainty by ~50%, to errors of less than 5%.