C. Garcia-Garcia

The Atmospheric Neutrino Flavor Ratio from a 3.9 Fiducial Kiloton-Year Exposure of Soudan 2

Abstract We report a measurement of the atmospheric neutrino flavor ratio, R, using a sample of quasi-elastic neutrino interactions occurring in an iron medium. The flavor ratio (tracks/showers) of atmospheric neutrinos in a 3.9 fiducial kiloton-year exposure of Soudan 2 is 0.64±0.11(stat.)±0.06(syst.) of that expected. Important aspects of our main analysis have been checked by carrying out two independent, alternative analyses; one is based upon automated scanning, the other uses a multivariate approach for background subtraction. Similar results are found by all three approaches.

Measurement of the atmospheric neutrino flavour composition in Soudan 2

Abstract The atmospheric neutrino flavour ratio measured using a 1.52 kton-year exposure of Soudan 2 is found to be 0.72 ± 0.19−0.07+0.05 relative to the expected value from a Monte Carlo calculation. The possible background of interactions of neutrons and photons produced in muon interactions in the rock surrounding the detector has been investigated and is shown not to produce low values of the ratio.

The SOUDAN 2 detector: The design and construction of the tracking calorimeter modules

SOUDAN 2 is a 960-ton tracking calorimeter which has been constructed to search for nucleon decay and other phenomena. The full detector consists of 224 calorimeter modules each weighing 4.3 tons. The design and construction of the modules are described. The modules consist of finely segmented iron instrumented with 1 m long drift tubes of 15 mm internal diameter. The tubes enable three spatial coordinates and dE/dx to be recorded for charged particles traversing the tubes.

The observation of underground muons from the direction of Cygnus X-3 during the January 1991 radio flare

Abstract Muons recorded in the Soudan 2 underground nucleon decay detector from January 1989 to February 1991 have been examined for any correlation with the radio flares of Cygnus X-3 observed during this period. On two nearby days during the radio flare of January 1991 a total of 32 muons within 2.0° of the Cygnus X-3 direction were observed when 11.4 were expected.

Search for the proton decay mode p → ν K+ in Soudan 2

We have searched for the proton decay mode p {yields} {nu} K{sup +} using the one-kiloton Soudan 2 high resolution calorimeter. Contained events obtained from a 3.56 kiloton-year fiducial exposure through June 1997 are examined for occurrence of a visible K{sup +} track which decays at rest into {mu}{sup +}{nu} or {pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup 0}. We found one candidate event consistent with background, yielding a limit, {tau}/B(p {yields} {nu} K{sup +})>4.3x10{sup 31} years at 90% CL with no background subtraction.We have searched for the proton decay mode proton to neutrino K+ using the one-kiloton Soudan 2 high resolution calorimeter. Contained events obtained from a 3.56 kiloton-year fiducial exposure through June 1997 are examined for occurrence of a visible K+ track which decays at rest into mu+ nu or pi+ pi0. We found one candidate event consistent with background, yielding a limit, tau/B>4.3 10^{31} years at 90% CL with no background subtraction.

First results from the Soudan 2 proton decay experiment

First results on contained neutrino interactions are presented from the Soudan 2 proton decay experiment. 20 neutrino events have been found in a fiducial exposure of 0.29 kton years.

Search for the proton decay mode p→νK+ in Soudan 2

We have searched for the proton decay mode p {yields} {nu} K{sup +} using the one-kiloton Soudan 2 high resolution calorimeter. Contained events obtained from a 3.56 kiloton-year fiducial exposure through June 1997 are examined for occurrence of a visible K{sup +} track which decays at rest into {mu}{sup +}{nu} or {pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup 0}. We found one candidate event consistent with background, yielding a limit, {tau}/B(p {yields} {nu} K{sup +})>4.3x10{sup 31} years at 90% CL with no background subtraction.We have searched for the proton decay mode proton to neutrino K+ using the one-kiloton Soudan 2 high resolution calorimeter. Contained events obtained from a 3.56 kiloton-year fiducial exposure through June 1997 are examined for occurrence of a visible K+ track which decays at rest into mu+ nu or pi+ pi0. We found one candidate event consistent with background, yielding a limit, tau/B>4.3 10^{31} years at 90% CL with no background subtraction.

Simultaneous Air Shower and Deep Muon Observations at Soudan

Recently, a few groups1 have made attempts to simultaneously measure the electromagnetic and deep underground muon components of cosmic ray showers. This is one such experiment, using a small proportional tube surface air shower detector in coincidence with the Soudan 2 nucleon decay detector. It has run since June, 1991, and some 22 000 events which triggered both detectors have been recorded. This body of data may provide insight into the composition of cosmic rays in the “knee” area of the cosmic ray spectrum.