QCD PRECISION MEASUREMENTS AND STRUCTURE FUNCTION EXTRACTION AT A HIGH STATISTICS, HIGH ENERGY NEUTRINO SCATTERING EXPERIMENT: NuSOnG

Abstract

We extend the physics case for a new high-energy, ultra-high statistics neutrino scattering experiment, NuSOnG (Neutrino Scattering On Glass) to address a variety of issues including precision QCD measurements, extraction of structure functions, and the derived Parton Distribution Functions (PDF's). This experiment uses a Tevatron-based neutrino beam to obtain a sample of Deep Inelastic Scattering (DIS) events which is over two orders of magnitude larger than past samples. We outline an innovative method for fitting the structure functions using a parametrized energy shift which yields reduced systematic uncertainties. High statistics measurements, in combination with improved systematics, will enable NuSOnG to perform discerning tests of fundamental Standard Model parameters as we search for deviations which may hint of "Beyond the Standard Model" physics.

Strange quark parton distribution functions and implications for Drell-Yan boson production at the LHC

“…The ratio of the strange to non-strange sea in the nucleon was measured to be κ = 0.48 +0.09+0. 17 −0.07−0.12 ; this is consistent with the values used in the global fits, c.f., Fig. 4.…”

“…For example, at leading-order (LO) in the parton model one finds that the difference between the Neutral Current (NC) and Charged Current (CC) DIS F 2 structure function is proportional to the strange PDF. Specifically if we neglect the charm PDF and isospin-violating terms, we have [17]…”

Sea-quark flavor content of octet baryons and intrinsic five-quark Fock states

“…Using a Tevatron-based neutrino beam, the high energy neutrino scattering experi-ment [71], Neutrino Scattering On Glass (NuSOnG), can allow measuring the strange sea in the nucleon through charged current opposite sign dimuon production via the following two step reactions:…”

RENAISSANCE OF THE ~1 TeV FIXED-TARGET PROGRAM

“…However, to illustrate that this is a well-rounded program, we also explore ideas in the neutrino sector. We review the case for a precision electroweak neutrino experiment running from a very pure sign-selected high energy ν µ beam, which has been discussed in more detail elsewhere [3,4] and we present new studies on two promising and unique avenues for beyond Standard Model neutrino searches using beam dump production. The first of these uses ν τ charged current events produced by a proton beam in the 800 GeV to 1 TeV range.…”

“…The second is a search for neutral heavy leptons produced in the beam dump. Emphasizing the breadth of physics possible in the high-energy neutrino scattering sector of this new fixed target program, an extensive study of high-precision QCD is described in a separate paper [4].This combination of experiments represents an integrated program aimed at discovery of new physics. At the same time, each of these experiments will provide a wide array of interesting and valuable measurements within the Standard Model.…”