DUNE – Simulation Validation of Fermilab Detector Reconstruction

Abstract

DUNE (Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment) is Fermilab’s flagship international experiment designed to study neutrinos by sending an intense beam from Illinois to detectors located 1,300 kilometers away at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in South Dakota. To prepare for such a large-scale experiment, physicists develop detailed simulations to produce mock data sets which are analyzed by the CAFAna framework. During my internship, I developed software using the CAFAna framework to analyze simulated detector data and generated plots to make data trends easier to interpret and identify patterns. My analysis has uncovered inconsistencies in reconstructed neutrino tracks, duplicated reconstructed tracks causing sporadic spikes in the data, and unnatural differences in energy levels between interaction types. These analyses help verify that the improvements to detector simulations do not introduce unintended resolution errors and ensure proper reconstruction performance, supporting DUNE’s goal of making precise neutrino measurements and advancing the Department of Energy’s mission of fundamental scientific discovery.