Studies of neutrinos in high definition with LArTPC

Abstract

Neutrinos, among the most elusive particles in the Standard Model, hold the potential to illuminate fundamental questions in particle physics and cosmology, including the mechanism of neutrino mass generation and the search for physics beyond the Standard Model. The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) is poised to address these challenges through a comprehensive program of precision neutrino oscillation measurements, nucleon decay searches, and astrophysical neutrino detection, leveraging a high-intensity neutrino beam and massive Liquid Argon Time Projection Chambers (LArTPCs) across a 1300 km baseline. This dissertation presents contributions to two critical aspects of DUNE's detector development and physics potential. First, it details the performance and deployment of the Digital Wire Analyzer (DWA), an advanced quality assurance tool designed to ensure the mechanical and electrical integrity of Anode Plane Assemblies (APAs) in the DUNE Far Detector. The DWA enables precise, automated verification of wire tension, continuity, and isolation, safeguarding the fidelity of charge readout in large-scale LArTPCs. Validation studies demonstrate that the DWA achieves high accuracy and reliability across thousands of channels, with tension measurements consistent with traditional methods but delivered at significantly greater speed and scalability. Its successful integration into production workflows has established the DWA as a cornerstone technology for ensuring APA quality throughout DUNE's construction. Second, this work explores the development and application of Q-Pix, a novel pixel-based readout technology offering true three-dimensional, self-triggering capabilities for next-generation LArTPCs. Through hardware characterization and simulation studies, the potential of Q-Pix to enhance low-energy neutrino detection is evaluated, with a focus on supernova and solar neutrino signals. The results demonstrate significant improvements in event reconstruction, background rejection, and energy threshold reduction compared to traditional wire-based systems, highlighting Q-Pix as a transformative approach for future DUNE modules and beyond. Together, these efforts advance the precision and scope of neutrino detection, contributing to the realization of ``high-definition" neutrino physics with liquid argon detectors.