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Latest Results from the ICARUS Experiment at the SBN Program

The ICARUS Collaboration is now entering its fifth year of continuing operations of the 760-ton liquid argon T600 detector. The T600 was overhauled at CERN after operations at the LNGS underground laboratory in Italy and moved to its present location at FNAL - as part of the Short-Baseline Neutrino (SBN) program - where it successfully completed its commissioning phase in June 2022. At FNAL ICARUS collects neutrino interactions from both the Booster Neutrino Beam (BNB) and off-axis from the Main Injector Neutrino beam (NuMI). To date, ICARUS has accumulated approximately $7.5\cdot 10^20$ protons on target (POT) with the BNB and about $6.2\cdot 10^20$ POT with NuMI. Within the SBN program ICARUS will search for evidence of short-baseline oscillations, potentially explained by eV-scale sterile neutrinos, jointly with the Short-Baseline Near Detector (SBND). In addition, ICARUS is performing stand-along oscillation searches in disappearance mode and measuring neutrino cross sections on argon with both the BNB and NuMI beams. It is also performing searches for additional Beyond the Standard Model signatures. Preliminary results from the ICARUS experiment, using data from the BNB and NuMI neutrino beams, will be presented.

Ricci, Alessandro Maria [U. Pisa (main); INFN, Pis↗

The Short-Baseline Near Detector at Fermilab: Input to the European Strategy for Particle Physics 2026 Update

SBND is a 112 ton liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC) neutrino detector located 110 meters from the Booster Neutrino Beam (BNB) target at Fermilab. Its main goals include searches for eV-scale sterile neutrinos as part of the Short-Baseline Neutrino (SBN) program, other searches for physics beyond the Standard Model, and precision studies of neutrino-argon interactions. In addition, SBND is providing a platform for LArTPC neutrino detector technology development and is an excellent training ground for the international group of scientists and engineers working towards the upcoming flagship Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE). SBND began operation in July 2024, and started collecting stable neutrino beam data in December 2024 with an unprecedented rate of ~7,000 neutrino events per day. During its currently approved operation plans (2024-2027), SBND is expected to accumulate nearly 10 million neutrino interactions. The near detector dataset will be instrumental in testing the sterile neutrino hypothesis with unprecedented sensitivity in SBN and in probing signals of beyond the Standard Model physics. It will also be used to significantly advance our understanding of the physics of neutrino-argon interactions ahead of DUNE. After the planned accelerator restart at Fermilab (2029+), opportunities are being explored to operate SBND in antineutrino mode in order to address the scarcity of antineutrino-argon scattering data, or in a dedicated beam-dump mode to significantly enhance sensitivity to searches for new physics. SBND is an international effort, with approximately 40% of institutions from Europe, contributing to detector construction, commissioning, software development, and data analysis. Continued European involvement and leadership are essential during SBND's operations and analysis phase for both the success of SBND, SBN and its role leading up to DUNE.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Search for Low mass Higgs Portal Scalars at the MicroBooNE Detector in the NuMI Beam

The MicroBooNE experiment exploits Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LArTPC) technology to detect neutrinos from two beams at Fermilab, Chicago: on-axis Booster Neutrino Beam (BNB) and the off-axis Neutrinos at the Main Injector (NuMI) beam. While the aim of the experiment is to study the low-energy excess of electron neutrino events observed by the MiniBooNE experiment, to search for eV-scale sterile neutrinos and to characterise neutrino interactions on argon, it could also be exploited to probe Beyond Standard Model (BSM) Physics. This thesis presents a BSM search for low-mass Higgs Portal Scalars at MicroBooNE in the NuMI beam using data collected during the Run 1 and Run 3 data-taking periods with a total exposure corresponding to $7.01 \times 10^{20}$ protons on target (POT). The Higgs Portal Model is an extension to the Standard Model in which a dark-sector scalar, $S$, mixes with the Higgs boson with mixing angle $\theta$ and acquires a coupling to the Standard Model fermions via the Higgs Yukawa coupling. We search for low-mass Higgs Portal scalars, in the mass range $100-200$ MeV, at MicroBooNE via the production channel $K \rightarrow \pi + S$, where scalars are produced from kaons decaying at rest in the NuMI target and beam dump, as well as kaons decaying in flight in the decay pipe of the NuMI beam. In the MicroBooNE detector, we search for the decay channel $S \rightarrow e^+e^-$, which is the only decay channel available to the scalars in the mass range of our search. The results are expressed as limits, at the 95\% confidence level, on the scalar-Higgs mixing angle $\theta$ for scalars in the mass range $100-200$ MeV.Date of Award1 Aug 2023Original languageEnglishAwarding InstitutionThe University of ManchesterSupervisorStefan Soldner-Rembold (Supervisor) & Justin Evans (Supervisor)

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Probing The Longest Dark Matter Lifetimes with the Line Emission Mapper

In the next decade, the proposed Line Emission Mapper (LEM) telescope concept is poised to revolutionize Galactic and extragalactic X-ray sensitivity. The instruments aboard LEM feature unprecedented eV scale energy resolution and an effective area of 1600 cm$^2$ at 0.5 keV. Such features are ideally suited to explore decaying dark matter candidates that predict X-ray signals, including axion-like particles and sterile neutrinos. We present the first forecast of LEM sensitivity to dark matter decays and find sensitivity to lifetimes beyond $\sim 10^{32}$ s in the keV range, surpassing current limits by several orders of magnitude. Notably, our results show that LEM will be the first ever instrument to probe such long dark matter lifetimes in any mass range for any decay channel.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Managing Increased Electric Vehicle Shares on Decarbonized Bulk Power Systems

Transportation electrification and power sector decarbonization - the convergence of these two trends present a complex planning problem requiring realistic, region-specific modeling and analysis to ensure that both can happen rapidly and cost effectively. This project, funded through the U.S. Department of Energy's Vehicle Technologies Office, models the evolution of the U.S. bulk power system (through 2050) in response to large-scale EV charging across all on-road vehicle segments. We will assess the opportunity and value of demand-side flexibility (i.e., "smart" charging) for reducing energy costs, increasing renewable generation shares, and managing future EV loads on the bulk power system. Overall, this study aims to provide an improved understanding of least-cost solutions for managing EV load growth on the grid and will make high-resolution EV load data sets publicly available for further analysis.

ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS,ENERGY PLANNING, POLIC↗

Simulating the Phonon Collection Efficiency in KIPMDs

Kinetic inductance phonon-mediated (KIPM) detectors use microwave kinetic inductance detectors (MKIDs) to read out phonon signals in the substrate. They are a promising class of detectors to be used in light dark matter (DM) searches due to their potential eV-scale sensitivity and native frequency-domain multiplexability. In order to improve upon the design of these detectors, simulations are needed to understand the effects of detector design on measurable physical parameters including the phonon collection efficiency, $\eta_{ph}$, which is defined as the ratio of phonon energy detected by the sensitive target element to the incident energy deposited in the substrate. This work simulates the phonon collection efficiency for a KIPMD currently operated at the Northwestern EXperimental Underground Site (NEXUS).

Dang, Stella Q.↗

Simulating the Phonon Collection Efficiency in Kinetic Inductance Phonon-Mediated Detectors

Kinetic inductance phonon-mediated (KIPM) detectors use microwave kinetic inductance detectors (MKIDs) to read out phonon signals in the substrate. They are a promising class of detectors to be used in light dark matter (DM) searches due to their potential eV-scale sensitivity and native frequency-domain multiplexability. In order to improve upon the design of these detectors, simulations are needed to understand the effects of detector design on measurable physical parameters including the phonon collection efficiency, $\eta_{ph}$, which is defined as the ratio of phonon energy detected by the sensitive target element to the incident energy deposited in the substrate. This work simulates the phonon collection efficiency for two existing detector architectures to study phonon absorption at substrate-sensor interfaces and phonon loss to non-sensitive detector elements.

Dang, Stella Q.↗

Road to PROSPECT-II

The Precision Reactor Oscillation and SPECTrum (PROSPECT) experiment is based in a segmented liquid scintillator antineutrino detector situated approximately 7 meters from the highly enriched High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Its main goal is to investigate short-baseline antineutrino oscillations. The first phase of data collection, known as PROSPECT-I, was held from 2018 to 2019 and was used for several high-precision analyses, including multiple measurements of the $^{235}U$ antineutrino spectrum and searches for $eV$-scale sterile antineutrino oscillations. The collaboration is now preparing for the second phase, PROSPECT-II, which features an upgraded detector design. This advancement will enhance sensitivity and statistical power, allowing for a broader range of analyses beyond those achieved in PROSPECT-I. As we transition into this new phase, new questions have arisen concerning background simulation and its potential differences from those conducted during the initial phase of the experiment. Moreover, it is essential to ascertain, through simulations, the positive effects that an improved detector could have on the study of oscillations. This information is crucial for justifying the proposed enhancements, and I will cover all of this in the talk.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Muon momentum reconstruction in ICARUS-T600 LArTPC via Multiple Scattering

The SBN program at Fermilab investigates the possible existence of eV-scale sterile neutrinos. This work focuses on reconstructing muon momentum in $\nu$-Ar interactions within the ICARUS-T600 LArTPC detector using Multiple Coulomb Scattering (MCS), the only viable method for non-contained muons. Two algorithms are evaluated: the Gran Sasso algorithm (2D, Collection view) and the MicroBooNE algorithm (3D angles), applied to 2391 simulated and 2255 real stopping muon tracks (0.4-1 GeV/c). Performance is assessed via bias and resolution, using range-based momentum as a reference. Two enhanced versions of the Gran Sasso algorithm are also developed: one combining all three wire plane views, and one using 3D angles. Results show that the MicroBooNE algorithm performs slightly better, with resolution down to 14\% in simulation and 16\% in real data. These improvements significantly boost $\nu_\mu$ CC statistics, enhancing sensitivity to $\nu_\mu$ disappearance and 3+1 oscillation signals.

Chiello, Giovanni [Pisa U.] (ORCID:000900064571071↗

Muon Time-of-Flight studies for cosmic background rejection in the Short Baseline Near Detector

The Short-Baseline Neutrino (SBN) program at Fermilab is a cutting-edge project in experimental neutrino physics. One of its main goals is to systematically investigate the possible existence of eV-scale sterile neutrinos. This phenomenon has been hypothesized to explain some anomalies found in short-range experiments and, if confirmed, would imply a substantial extension of the Standard Model. SBN also offers an important opportunity to deepen the understanding of neutrino-nucleus interactions in the GeV energy range, through the use of Liquid Argon Time Projection Chambers (LArTPC) detectors, a fundamental technology also for the future DUNE experiment. The SBN experimental infrastructure consists of three detectors aligned along the Booster Neutrino Beamline at Fermilab. Among them, the detector located closest to the neutrino source, SBND (Short-Baseline Near Detector), positioned approximately 110 meters from the target, plays a key role in directly characterizing the initial neutrino flux. This allows for a direct comparison with the measurements from the far detector, ICARUS, located about 600 meters from the source, in order to search for potential signs of anomalous neutrino oscillations. My master's thesis focuses on the commissioning and characterization activities of the SBND detector, with particular reference to the Cosmic Ray Tagger (CRT). The CRT is a subsystem for identifying and rejecting events produced by cosmic rays, which constitute the main source of background for surface experiments like SBND. The activity began with the commissioning of the final components of the detector, as well as their validation to verify their correct functioning and signal acquisition. A central part of my work involved studying the veto efficiency of the CRT system, analyzing the rate of cosmic ray-induced events to quantify any loss of neutrino-induced events caused by cosmic background. This allowed for a more precise evaluation of the systematic impact of the CRT on the useful physics sample. A further phase of my analysis involved an in-depth study of the temporal correlation between the CRT signals and those acquired by the LArTPC's internal photodetector system, consisting of photomultiplier tubes and X-ARAPUCA devices. The objective is to explore the possibility of using combined temporal information as an additional criterion for discriminating between cosmic signals and signals genuinely due to neutrino interaction. Preliminary results indicate the presence of characteristic temporal signatures that could be exploited to improve event selection and increase the purity of the neutrino-induced sample. These methodologies will certainly contribute to the optimization of SBND analysis strategies and, more generally, to a better understanding of background mechanisms in next-generation LArTPC experiments.

Corallo, Annalea [Ferrara U.]↗

Charge Trap Analysis in a SENSEI Skipper-CCD: Understanding Low-Energy Backgrounds in Rare-Event Searches

Skipper Charge-Coupled Devices (Skipper-CCDs) are ultra-low-threshold detectors capable of detecting energy deposits in silicon at the eV scale. Increasingly used in rare-event searches, one of the major challenges in these experiments is mitigating low-energy backgrounds. In this work, we present results on trap characterization in a silicon Skipper-CCD produced in the same fabrication run as the SENSEI experiment at SNOLAB. Lattice defects contribute to backgrounds in rare-event searches through single-electron charge trapping. To investigate this, we employ the charge-pumping technique at different temperatures to identify dipoles produced by traps in the CCD channel. We fully characterize a fraction of these traps and use this information to extrapolate their contribution to the single-electron background in SENSEI. We find that this subpopulation of traps does not contribute significantly but more work is needed to assess the impact of the traps that can not be characterized.

Brusco, Agustin [Buenos Aires U.]↗

Western Smart Regional EV Adoption and Infrastructure at Scale- WestSmartEV@Scale (Budget Period 2 – Milestone Report – TNC EV Study)

WestSmartEV@Scale is a comprehensive research project addressing key opportunities to decarbonize transportation throughout the Rocky Mountain West. Building upon the framework established in the original WestSmart project, unique subprojects are scoped targeting transportation emissions across light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles with consideration of equity and access. This report summarizes the progress to date on Subproject 6, TNC EV Study (Urban Mobility). It is comprised of three sections: • Outreach and participant recruitment; • Survey data collection and analysis; and • BEV driver driving and charging behavior data collection and analysis.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

Improving Resiliency in Planning MW-Scale Medium and Heavy Duty EV Charging Stations Considering TSCOTS Optimization

Electrification of heavy-duty (HD) vehicles marks an important milestone and technical challenge in the electric vehicle (EV) industry and the public grid. However, implementing EV charging at this scale will necessitate that traditional truck stops be updated with EV charging infrastructure that could represent 10's of MW in electricity consumption. Furthermore, as the transportation sector is represented as critical infrastructure, supporting resiliency considerations in EV charging infrastructure will be critical. This paper proposes an optimization-based approach for optimally designing a MW-scale microgrid charging network. This approach transforms conventional designed truck stops into a reliable HDEV charging stations capable of overnight slow charging and 30-minute to 1 hour fast charging. Using a mixed-integer linear program formulation blending capacity planning and reliability constraints, an optimal network configuration can be solved for a proposed EV charging station that includes photovoltaic and battery energy storage capabilities.

Ponce, Moises [University of Tennessee, Knoxville ↗

Electric Vehicles at Scale - Phase II - Distribution Systems Analysis

The use of electric vehicles (EVs) in the United States has grown significantly during the last decade, posing benefits to the environment but also potential challenges to our grid. To better understand this scenario , the Department of Energy (DOE) asked Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) to perform an authoritative study of the impacts of EVs at scale on the electric grid. The Phase I study focused on the bulk power electricity impacts . This EV-at-scale Phase II work addresses key questions of interest to DOE related to the impacts of EV in the distribution systems: 1. When (which year), where, and how many EVs will be adopted and how will they be charged? 2. Given some prospective answers to the above question, what would be the EV hosting capability of a distribution system circuit? 3. How could the hosting capability be expanded to accommodate more EVs and what would be the potential measures and cost? This report documents the methodologies developed as part of this project and provides EV adoption modeling examples using distribution system circuit data provided by industry partner, Southern California Edison (SCE).

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

EV SALaD 2023 Demonstration: Best Practices and Mitigations for Protecting EVSE Infrastructure

The Electric Vehicle Secure Architecture Laboratory Demonstration (EV SALaD) program is a demonstration of cybersecurity best practices for high-power electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure led by Idaho National Laboratory (INL), in collaboration with other DOE National Laboratories participating in the EVs at Scale Consortium.a Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) participated in the first 2-year (FY22-23) demonstration cycle for EV SALaD. This report documents the FY23 demonstration, the second in a series of demonstrations and collaborations in deploying and operating cybersecure EV charging infrastructure. It includes a summary of improvements from the FY22 demonstration, technical analysis of the FY23 demonstration, how the research demonstrates cyber-physical and cybersecurity best practices for high-power EV charging infrastructure, and related impacts to national and energy security. For EV SALaD, the FY22 demonstration focused on the detection, ranking, and prioritization of anomalous events for high-power EV charging. The FY23 demonstration additionally included the demonstration of cybersecurity best practices, which included protection and mitigation solutions to prevent, respond, and recover from anomalous events. During the demonstrations, the multi-lab EV SALaD team conducted a Test Effect Payload (TEP)b evaluation on extreme fast charger (XFC) hardware equipped with Cerberus, a detection and response solution, to demonstrate anomaly detection and mitigation cybersecurity best practices against cyber-enabled events.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

Development of a Heavy-Duty Electric Vehicle Integration and Implementation (HEVII) Tool

As demand for consumer electric vehicles (EVs) has drastically increased in recent years, manufacturers have been working to bring heavy-duty EVs to market to compete with Class 6-8 diesel-powered trucks. Many high-profile companies have committed to begin electrifying their fleet operations, but have yet to implement EVs at scale due to their limited range, long charging times, sparse charging infrastructure, and lack of data from in-use operation. Thus far, EVs have been disproportionately implemented by larger fleets with more resources. To aid fleet operators, it is imperative to develop tools to evaluate the electrification potential of heavy-duty fleets. However, commercially available tools, designed mostly for light-duty vehicles, are inadequate for making electrification recommendations tailored to a fleet of heavy-duty vehicles. The main challenge is that light-duty tools do not estimate real-time vehicle mass, a factor that has a disproportionate impact on the energy consumption of large commercial vehicles. The Heavy-Duty Electric Vehicle Integration and Implementation (HEVII) tool advances the state of the art in evaluating electrification potential and infrastructure requirements for fleets of commercial vehicles. In this work, the HEVII tool is demonstrated with non-uniformly sampled telematics data from an existing fleet to assess the suitability for electrification of each individual vehicle, determine optimal locations for charging infrastructure to support a fleet of EVs and analyze associated costs. Payload mass is predicted using sparse ground-truth data for all input drive cycles and an initial data analysis is conducted to assess the characteristics driving behaviors and energy consumption of the fleet using an adaptable vehicle model. Battery size requirements are determined by applying a novel charger placement algorithm to maximize routes that are viable for EVs and balance time delays with infrastructure development costs. This work details and demonstrates the different aspects of the HEVII tool, presenting preliminary results from an example use case.

ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

Advancing Grid Resilience through Smart Charge Management: Findings from Maryland’s Pilot

This report presents research findings from a four-year Smart Charge Management (SCM) pilot program conducted by Maryland’s largest electric utilities—Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE), Potomac Electric Power Company (Pepco), and Delmarva Power & Light (DPL)—to evaluate strategies for optimizing electric vehicle (EV) charging loads and enhancing grid stability. Supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Argonne National Laboratory collaborated with all project partners and examined the effectiveness of Time-of-Use (TOU) and Load Balancing (LB) strategies in managing peak demand, deferring costly infrastructure upgrades, and reducing grid constraints at the feeder level. Using charging data from over 4,600 EV drivers, the study analyzed SCM’s impact on the distribution systems of BGE and Pepco, which consists of over 2000 feeders. Unlike prior research that focused on system-wide trends or synthetic feeders, this analysis offers granular, feeder-level insights based on real-world operational data. It highlights how transformer density, load profiles, and infrastructure constraints influence smart charging performance. Results show feeder-level conditions play a crucial role in SCM effectiveness, with most feeders benefiting more from LB, while TOU-based SCM may be sufficient for others. By 2035, LB reduced peak charging loads by 27% on average, compared to 23% under TOU-based SCM, though some feeders saw reductions exceeding 35%, while others experienced minimal impact. Feeders with higher transformer utilization and limited capacity benefited more from LB, which more effectively distributed charging demand during off-peak hours. Beyond reducing grid constraints, SCM offers long-term operational and financial benefits. By shifting EV charging demand strategically, utilities can optimize asset utilization, delay infrastructure investments, and enhance grid performance. In terms of infrastructure upgrade deferrals, at the feeder level, LB consistently reduced peak charging loads and resulting infrastructure upgrade costs, particularly in high EV enrollment areas, decreasing the number of overloaded transformers by up to 35%, while TOU-based SCM achieved 20-30% reductions depending on feeder characteristics. At the system level, LB has the potential to defer total upgrade costs by $\$$186 million for BGE, compared to $\$$159 million under TOU-based SCM. For Pepco, TOU-based SCM performed slightly better, deferring upgrade costs by $\$$30 million, compared to $\$$29 million under LB. Section 4.5 reviews some of the system differences between BGE and Pepco. However, as EV adoption scales, TOU-based SCM will introduce secondary peak charging loads, reinforcing the need for more advanced, adaptive SCM approaches to prevent new grid challenges. As EV adoption continues to grow, feeder-level managed charging strategies will be essential for mitigating grid stress, improving infrastructure efficiency, and maintaining energy affordability for consumers. This report provides critical insights for utilities, Public Utility Commissions (PUCs), and state agencies on the role of feeder-specific smart charging in infrastructure planning, policy development, and grid modernization. The findings underscore the importance of tailored, data-driven SCM solutions that align with local grid conditions, ensuring a resilient, cost-effective transition to increasing EV adoption while safeguarding distribution system performance.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗