Scintillation light calibrations, systematic uncertainties, and triggering efficiency in the MicroBooNE detector

Abratenko, P. [Tufts U.]; Andrade Aldana, D. [IIT, Chicago]; Arellano, L. [Manchester U.]; Asaadi, J. [Texas U., Arlington]; Ashkenazi, A. [Tel Aviv U.]; Balasubramanian, S. [Fermilab]; Baller, B. [Fermilab]; Barnard, A. [Oxford U.]; Barr, G. [Oxford U.]; Barrow, D. [Oxford U.]; Barrow, J. [Minnesota U.]; Basque, V. [Fermilab]; Bateman, J. [Imperial Coll., London; Manchester U.]; Behera, B. [South Dakota Sch. Mines Tech.]; Rodrigues, O. Benevides [IIT, Chicago]; Berkman, S. [Michigan State U.]; Bhat, A. [Chicago U.]; Bhattacharya, M. [Fermilab]; Bhelande, V. [Los Alamos]; Binau, A. [Indiana U.]; Bishai, M. [Brookhaven]; Blake, A. [Lancaster U.]; Bogart, B. [Michigan U.]; Bolton, T. [Kansas State U., Manhattan]; Brunetti, M. B. [Kansas U.]; Camilleri, L. [Columbia U.]; Caratelli, D. [UC, Santa Barbara]; Cavanna, F. [Fermilab]; Cerati, G. [Fermilab]; Chappell, A. [Warwick U.]; Chen, Y. [SLAC]; Conrad, J. M. [MIT]; Convery, M. [SLAC]; Cooper-Troendle, L. [Pittsburgh U.]; Crespo-Anadón, J. I. [Madrid, CIEMAT]; Cross, R. [Warwick U.]; Del Tutto, M. [Fermilab]; Dennis, S. R. [Cambridge U.]; Detje, P. [Cambridge U.]; Diurba, R. [U. Bern (main)]; Djurcic, Z. [Argonne]; Duffy, K. [Oxford U.]; Dytman, S. [Pittsburgh U.]; Eberly, B. [Unlisted, US, ME]; Englezos, P. [Rutgers U., Piscataway]; Ereditato, A. [Chicago U.; Fermilab]; Evans, J. J. [Manchester U.]; Fang, C. [UC, Santa Barbara]; Fleming, B. T. [Chicago U.]; Foreman, W. [Los Alamos]; Franco, D. [Chicago U.]; Furmanski, A. P. [Minnesota U.]; Gao, F. [UC, Santa Barbara]; Garcia-Gamez, D. [CAFPE, Granada]; Gardiner, S. [Fermilab]; Ge, G. [Columbia U.]; Gollapinni, S. [Los Alamos]; Gramellini, E. [Manchester U.]; Green, P. [Oxford U.]; Greenlee, H. [Fermilab]; Gu, L. [Lancaster U.]; Gu, W. [Brookhaven]; Guenette, R. [Manchester U.]; Hagaman, L. [Columbia U.]; Handley, M. D. [Cambridge U.]; Harrison, M. [Los Alamos]; Hawkins, S. [Michigan State U.]; Hergenhan, A. [Imperial Coll., London]; Hen, O. [MIT]; Hilgenberg, C. [Minnesota U.]; Horton-Smith, G. A. [Kansas State U., Manhattan]; Hussain, A. [Kansas State U., Manhattan]; Irwin, B. [Minnesota U.]; Ismail, M. S. [Pittsburgh U.]; James, C. [Fermilab]; Ji, X. [Nankai U.]; Jo, J. H. [Brookhaven]; Johnson, R. A. [Cincinnati U.]; Johnson, A. [Indiana U.]; Kalra, D. [Columbia U.]; Karagiorgi, G. [Columbia U.]; Kelly, A. [Indiana U.]; Ketchum, W. [Fermilab]; Kirby, M. [Brookhaven]; Kobilarcik, T. [Fermilab]; Kumar, K. [Columbia U.]; Lane, N. [Imperial Coll., London; Manchester U.]; Li, J.-Y. [U. Edinburgh (main)]; Li, Y. [Brookhaven]; Lin, K. [Rutgers U., Piscataway]; Littlejohn, B. R. [IIT, Chicago]; Liu, L. [Fermilab]; Liu, S. [Nankai U.]; Louis, W. C. [Los Alamos]; Luo, X. [UC, Santa Barbara]; Mahmud, T. [Lancaster U.]; Majeed, N. [Kansas State U., Manhattan]; Mariani, C. [Virginia Tech.]; Marshall, J. [Warwick U.]; Alves, M.G. Manuel [IIT, Chicago]

DOE OSTI · 3025844

Scintillation light calibrations, systematic uncertainties, and triggering efficiency in the MicroBooNE detector

Abratenko, P. [Tufts U.]·Andrade Aldana, D. [IIT, Chicago]·Arellano, L. [Manchester U.]·Asaadi, J. [Texas U., Arlington]·Ashkenazi, A. [Tel Aviv U.]·Balasubramanian, S. [Fermilab]·Baller, B. [Fermilab]·Barnard, A. [Oxford U.]·Barr, G. [Oxford U.]·Barrow, D. [Oxford U.]·Barrow, J. [Minnesota U.]·Basque, V. [Fermilab]·Bateman, J. [Imperial Coll., London; Manchester U.]·Behera, B. [South Dakota Sch. Mines Tech.]·Rodrigues, O. Benevides [IIT, Chicago]·Berkman, S. [Michigan State U.]·Bhat, A. [Chicago U.]·Bhattacharya, M. [Fermilab]·Bhelande, V. [Los Alamos]·Binau, A. [Indiana U.]·Bishai, M. [Brookhaven]·Blake, A. [Lancaster U.]·Bogart, B. [Michigan U.]·Bolton, T. [Kansas State U., Manhattan]·Brunetti, M. B. [Kansas U.]·Camilleri, L. [Columbia U.]·Caratelli, D. [UC, Santa Barbara]·Cavanna, F. [Fermilab]·Cerati, G. [Fermilab]·Chappell, A. [Warwick U.]·Chen, Y. [SLAC]·Conrad, J. M. [MIT]·Convery, M. [SLAC]·Cooper-Troendle, L. [Pittsburgh U.]·Crespo-Anadón, J. I. [Madrid, CIEMAT]·Cross, R. [Warwick U.]·Del Tutto, M. [Fermilab]·Dennis, S. R. [Cambridge U.]·Detje, P. [Cambridge U.]·Diurba, R. [U. Bern (main)]·Djurcic, Z. [Argonne]·Duffy, K. [Oxford U.]·Dytman, S. [Pittsburgh U.]·Eberly, B. [Unlisted, US, ME]·Englezos, P. [Rutgers U., Piscataway]·Ereditato, A. [Chicago U.; Fermilab]·Evans, J. J. [Manchester U.]·Fang, C. [UC, Santa Barbara]·Fleming, B. T. [Chicago U.]·Foreman, W. [Los Alamos]·Franco, D. [Chicago U.]·Furmanski, A. P. [Minnesota U.]·Gao, F. [UC, Santa Barbara]·Garcia-Gamez, D. [CAFPE, Granada]·Gardiner, S. [Fermilab]·Ge, G. [Columbia U.]·Gollapinni, S. [Los Alamos]·Gramellini, E. [Manchester U.]·Green, P. [Oxford U.]·Greenlee, H. [Fermilab]·Gu, L. [Lancaster U.]·Gu, W. [Brookhaven]·Guenette, R. [Manchester U.]·Hagaman, L. [Columbia U.]·Handley, M. D. [Cambridge U.]·Harrison, M. [Los Alamos]·Hawkins, S. [Michigan State U.]·Hergenhan, A. [Imperial Coll., London]·Hen, O. [MIT]·Hilgenberg, C. [Minnesota U.]·Horton-Smith, G. A. [Kansas State U., Manhattan]·Hussain, A. [Kansas State U., Manhattan]·Irwin, B. [Minnesota U.]·Ismail, M. S. [Pittsburgh U.]·James, C. [Fermilab]·Ji, X. [Nankai U.]·Jo, J. H. [Brookhaven]·Johnson, R. A. [Cincinnati U.]·Johnson, A. [Indiana U.]·Kalra, D. [Columbia U.]·Karagiorgi, G. [Columbia U.]·Kelly, A. [Indiana U.]·Ketchum, W. [Fermilab]·Kirby, M. [Brookhaven]·Kobilarcik, T. [Fermilab]·Kumar, K. [Columbia U.]·Lane, N. [Imperial Coll., London; Manchester U.]·Li, J.-Y. [U. Edinburgh (main)]·Li, Y. [Brookhaven]·Lin, K. [Rutgers U., Piscataway]·Littlejohn, B. R. [IIT, Chicago]·Liu, L. [Fermilab]·Liu, S. [Nankai U.]·Louis, W. C. [Los Alamos]·Luo, X. [UC, Santa Barbara]·Mahmud, T. [Lancaster U.]·Majeed, N. [Kansas State U., Manhattan]·Mariani, C. [Virginia Tech.]·Marshall, J. [Warwick U.]·Alves, M.G. Manuel [IIT, Chicago]

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Abstract

Scintillation light, produced alongside ionisation charge from particle interactions, plays a critical role in liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC) detectors. A detailed understanding of its production and detection mechanisms is essential for robust calibration, systematic uncertainty evaluation, and physics analysis. This article describes the MicroBooNE light simulation, light-based triggering schemes, photomultiplier tube gain calibration, light response stability, and light-based systematic uncertainties over the course of five years of data collection. In addition, we present a measurement of scintillation light triggering efficiency, focusing on the lowest-light regime relevant to rare-event searches and low-energy neutrino interactions. Finally, we discuss two notable observations in MicroBooNE's data, both reported here for the first time: an approximately 50% decline in MicroBooNE's light yield over time, concentrated in the first two years of running; and a higher than expected O(200 kHz) rate of single photoelectron noise. The results presented provide an important benchmark of long-term light detection performance in LArTPC neutrino detectors.

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Abratenko, P. [Tufts U.], Andrade Aldana, D. [IIT, Chicago], Arellano, L. [Manchester U.], Asaadi, J. [Texas U., Arlington], Ashkenazi, A. [Tel Aviv U.], Balasubramanian, S. [Fermilab], Baller, B. [Fermilab], Barnard, A. [Oxford U.], Barr, G. [Oxford U.], Barrow, D. [Oxford U.], Barrow, J. [Minnesota U.], Basque, V. [Fermilab], Bateman, J. [Imperial Coll., London; Manchester U.], Behera, B. [South Dakota Sch. Mines Tech.], Rodrigues, O. Benevides [IIT, Chicago], Berkman, S. [Michigan State U.], Bhat, A. [Chicago U.], Bhattacharya, M. [Fermilab], Bhelande, V. [Los Alamos], Binau, A. [Indiana U.], Bishai, M. [Brookhaven], Blake, A. [Lancaster U.], Bogart, B. [Michigan U.], Bolton, T. [Kansas State U., Manhattan], Brunetti, M. B. [Kansas U.], Camilleri, L. [Columbia U.], Caratelli, D. [UC, Santa Barbara], Cavanna, F. [Fermilab], Cerati, G. [Fermilab], Chappell, A. [Warwick U.], Chen, Y. [SLAC], Conrad, J. M. [MIT], Convery, M. [SLAC], Cooper-Troendle, L. [Pittsburgh U.], Crespo-Anadón, J. I. [Madrid, CIEMAT], Cross, R. [Warwick U.], Del Tutto, M. [Fermilab], Dennis, S. R. [Cambridge U.], Detje, P. [Cambridge U.], Diurba, R. [U. Bern (main)], Djurcic, Z. [Argonne], Duffy, K. [Oxford U.], Dytman, S. [Pittsburgh U.], Eberly, B. [Unlisted, US, ME], Englezos, P. [Rutgers U., Piscataway], Ereditato, A. [Chicago U.; Fermilab], Evans, J. J. [Manchester U.], Fang, C. [UC, Santa Barbara], Fleming, B. T. [Chicago U.], Foreman, W. [Los Alamos], Franco, D. [Chicago U.], Furmanski, A. P. [Minnesota U.], Gao, F. [UC, Santa Barbara], Garcia-Gamez, D. [CAFPE, Granada], Gardiner, S. [Fermilab], Ge, G. [Columbia U.], Gollapinni, S. [Los Alamos], Gramellini, E. [Manchester U.], Green, P. [Oxford U.], Greenlee, H. [Fermilab], Gu, L. [Lancaster U.], Gu, W. [Brookhaven], Guenette, R. [Manchester U.], Hagaman, L. [Columbia U.], Handley, M. D. [Cambridge U.], Harrison, M. [Los Alamos], Hawkins, S. [Michigan State U.], Hergenhan, A. [Imperial Coll., London], Hen, O. [MIT], Hilgenberg, C. [Minnesota U.], Horton-Smith, G. A. [Kansas State U., Manhattan], Hussain, A. [Kansas State U., Manhattan], Irwin, B. [Minnesota U.], Ismail, M. S. [Pittsburgh U.], James, C. [Fermilab], Ji, X. [Nankai U.], Jo, J. H. [Brookhaven], Johnson, R. A. [Cincinnati U.], Johnson, A. [Indiana U.], Kalra, D. [Columbia U.], Karagiorgi, G. [Columbia U.], Kelly, A. [Indiana U.], Ketchum, W. [Fermilab], Kirby, M. [Brookhaven], Kobilarcik, T. [Fermilab], Kumar, K. [Columbia U.], Lane, N. [Imperial Coll., London; Manchester U.], Li, J.-Y. [U. Edinburgh (main)], Li, Y. [Brookhaven], Lin, K. [Rutgers U., Piscataway], Littlejohn, B. R. [IIT, Chicago], Liu, L. [Fermilab], Liu, S. [Nankai U.], Louis, W. C. [Los Alamos], Luo, X. [UC, Santa Barbara], Mahmud, T. [Lancaster U.], Majeed, N. [Kansas State U., Manhattan], Mariani, C. [Virginia Tech.], Marshall, J. [Warwick U.], Alves, M.G. Manuel [IIT, Chicago]. 2026-03-24. Scintillation light calibrations, systematic uncertainties, and triggering efficiency in the MicroBooNE detector. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/3025844

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