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Norm Buchanan

Associate Professor  

PhD, University of Alberta (2003)

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Research Interests

My research interests are focused in the area of experimental high-energy (particle) physics. I have worked in both hadron and neutrino physics. I am currently a member of the NOvA and DUNE collaborations where I work on neutrino interaction cross-sections and detector development, respectively. On the NOvA experiment my research interests involve measuring neutrino interactions using the near detector complex located at Fermilab near Chicago in Illinois. I am also the convener of the data-driven trigger group. My work on the DUNE experiment is focused on photon detection in the liquid argon time projection detectors (TPC) that make up the DUNE far detector. My group provides the engineering for the photon detector system and is responsible for PDS assembly and quality assurance.  Previously, I was the project manager for the photon detector system.

NOvA near detector

NOvA near detector

The NOvA experiment utilizes an intense “super-beam” of neutrinos to try to help us understand how neutrinos mix together, or oscillate from one type to another. One of the main goals of the NOvA experiment is to observe the oscillation of muon neutrinos into electron neutrinos and in do so determine the neutrino mass hierarchy. The probability of such oscillations is relatively low and thus requires an intense neutrino source, as well as excellent detectors and very precise measurements of signal and background events. To accomplish this the NOvA experiment uses an off-axis beam with the 14 kt far detector located 14 mrad off-axis 810 km away from the neutrino source.  Data taking is currently underway with first oscillation results expected soon! The results of the NOvA oscillation measurement, along with those from the T2K experiment, will provide direction for the next generation of neutrino experiments where it is hoped that the CP violating phase angle (δcp) may be measured. CP violation in the neutrino sector might provide clues to the matter dominated make-up of the universe. There is also the possibility that nature will be kind and NOvA could get an indication of the value of δcp.

I am also interested in projects beyond NOvA and am involved in the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) where an intense neutrino beam of muon neutrinos will be sent from Fermilab, near Chicago, to a huge detector located a mile underground in the Black Hills, more than 1000km away. The DUNE far detector will be comprised of liquid argon TPCs with a total fiducial volume of 40 kilotons. My group is one of several groups developing methods to collect the 128 nm photons resulting from the scintillation of liquid argon by charged particles.

Selected Publications (of 348)

  • Acero M.A. et al, New constraints on oscillation parameters from v(e) appearance and v(mu) disappearance in the NOvA experiment, Physical Review, D 98 (3), 032012 (2018)
  • Adams D.L. et al, Photon detector system performance in the DUNE 35-ton prototype liquid argon time projection chamber, Journal of Instrumentation, 13 (06), P06022 (2018)
  • Adamson P., et al, Search for active-sterile neutrino mixing using neutral-current interactions in NOvA, Physical Review, D 96 (7), 072006 (2017)
  • Adamson, P. et al, Constraints on Oscillation Parameters from nu(e) Appearance and nu(mu) Disappearance in NOvA, Physical Review Letters, 118 (23), 231801 (2017)
  • Adamson P., et al. Measurement of the Neutrino Mixing Angle theta(23) in NOvA, Physical Review Letters, 118 (15), 151802 (2017)
  • Abe K. et al, Upper bound on neutrino mass based on T2K neutrino timing measurements, Physical Review, D 93, (1), 012006 (2016)
  • K. Abe, et al. (T2K Collaboration), Measurements of neutrino oscillation in appearance and disappearance channels by the T2K experiment with 6.6 x 10(20) protons on target, Physical Review D 91, 072010 (2015).
  • K. Abe, et al. (T2K Collaboration), Measurement of the nu(mu) charged current quasielastic cross section on carbon with the T2K on-axis neutrino beam, Physical Review D 91, 112002 (2015).
  • K. Abe, et al. (T2K Collaboration), Measurement of the electron neutrino charged-current interaction rate on water with the T2K ND280 pi(0) detector, Physical Review D 91, 112010 (2015).
  • Abe, K. et al. (T2K Collaboration), “Observation of Electron Neutrino Appearance in a Muon Neutrino Beam”, Measurement of the intrinsic electron neutrino component in the T2K neutrino beam with the ND280 detector By: Abe, K.; Adam, J.; Aihara, H.; et al. Group Author(s): T2K Collaboration PHYSICAL REVIEW D Vol. 89 Iss. 9 Article Number: 092003 (2014)
  • Abe, K. et al. (T2K Collaboration), “Precise Measurement of the Neutrino Mixing Parameter theta(23) from Muon Neutrino Disappearance in an Off-Axis Beam”, PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS Vol. 112 Iss. 18 Article Number: 181801 (2014)
  • Baller B., Bromberg C., Buchanan N. et al, Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber research and development in the United States, Journal of Instrumentation, Vol. 9, T05005, (2014)
  • Abe, K. et al. (T2K Collaboration) “Measurement of the Inclusive nu_mu charged current cross-section on iron and hydrocarbon in the T2K on-axis neutrino beam“, Phys. Rev. D 90, doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.90.052010 (2014).
  • Wasserman R. and Buchanan N., “Development of a wavelength-shifting fiber-based photon detector for LBNE”, J. Inst. Vol 8, C10008 (2013)
  • Abe, K. et al. (T2K Collaboration) “T2K neutrino flux prediction”, Phys. Rev. D 87, doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.87.019902 (2013).
  • Abe, K. et al. (T2K Collaboration) “Observation of Electron Neutrino Appearance in a Muon Neutrino Beam“,  Phys. Rev. Lett. 112, Iss. 6 Art. #: 061802, (2013).
  • Assylbekov, S. et al. “The T2K ND280 off-axis pi-zero detector”, Nucl Instrum Meth A 686, 48-63, doi:10.1016/j.nima.2012.05.028 (2012).
  • Abe, K. et al. (T2K Collaboration) “The T2K experiment“, Nucl Instrum Meth A 659, 106-135, doi:10.1016/j.nima.2011.06.067 (2011).
  • Abe, K. et al. (T2K Collaboration) “Indication of Electron Neutrino Appearance from an Accelerator-Produced Off-Axis Muon Neutrino Beam“, Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.041801 (2011).
  • Buchanan N.J. et al, “Radiation Qualification of the Front-End Electronics for the Readout of the ATLAS Liquid Argon Calorimeters,” J. Inst. 3 P10005, (2008).
  • Buchanan N.J. et al, “Design and Implementation of the Front-End Board for the Readout of the ATLAS Front-End Calorimeters,” J. Inst. 3 P03004, (2008).
  • Abazov V.M. et al (D0 Collaboration), “Evidence for production of single top quarks,” Phys Rev D Vol.78 012005 (2008).