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Identification of low-energy kaons in the ProtoDUNE-SP detector

Publication ,  Journal Article
Abbaslu, S; Abd Alrahman, F; Abed Abud, A; Acciarri, R; Accorsi, LP; Acero, MA; Adames, MR; Adamov, G; Adamowski, M; Adriano, C; Akbar, F ...
Published in: Physical Review D
March 9, 2026

The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) is a next-generation neutrino experiment with a rich physics program that includes searches for the hypothetical phenomenon of proton decay. Utilizing liquid-argon time-projection chamber technology, DUNE is expected to achieve world-leading sensitivity in the proton decay channels that involve charged kaons in their final states. The first DUNE demonstrator, ProtoDUNE Single-Phase, was a 0.77 kt detector that operated from 2018 to 2020 at the CERN Neutrino Platform, exposed to a mixed hadron and electron test-beam with momenta ranging from 0.3 to . We present a selection of low-energy kaons among the secondary particles produced in hadronic reactions, using data from the 6 and beam runs. The selection efficiency is 1% and the sample purity 92%. The initial energies of the selected kaon candidates encompass the expected energy range of kaons originating from proton decay events in DUNE (below ). In addition, we demonstrate the capability of this detector technology to discriminate between kaons and other particles such as protons and muons, and provide a comprehensive description of their energy loss in liquid argon, which shows good agreement with the simulation. These results pave the way for future proton decay searches at DUNE.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Physical Review D

DOI

EISSN

2470-0029

ISSN

2470-0010

Publication Date

March 9, 2026

Volume

113

Issue

5

Publisher

American Physical Society (APS)
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Abbaslu, S., Abd Alrahman, F., Abed Abud, A., Acciarri, R., Accorsi, L. P., Acero, M. A., … Hewes, V. (2026). Identification of low-energy kaons in the ProtoDUNE-SP detector. Physical Review D, 113(5). https://doi.org/10.1103/q21l-pl7s
Abbaslu, S., F. Abd Alrahman, A. Abed Abud, R. Acciarri, L. P. Accorsi, M. A. Acero, M. R. Adames, et al. “Identification of low-energy kaons in the ProtoDUNE-SP detector.” Physical Review D 113, no. 5 (March 9, 2026). https://doi.org/10.1103/q21l-pl7s.
Abbaslu S, Abd Alrahman F, Abed Abud A, Acciarri R, Accorsi LP, Acero MA, et al. Identification of low-energy kaons in the ProtoDUNE-SP detector. Physical Review D. 2026 Mar 9;113(5).
Abbaslu, S., et al. “Identification of low-energy kaons in the ProtoDUNE-SP detector.” Physical Review D, vol. 113, no. 5, American Physical Society (APS), Mar. 2026. Crossref, doi:10.1103/q21l-pl7s.
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Identification of low-energy kaons in the ProtoDUNE-SP detector. Physical Review D. American Physical Society (APS); 2026 Mar 9;113(5).

Published In

Physical Review D

DOI

EISSN

2470-0029

ISSN

2470-0010

Publication Date

March 9, 2026

Volume

113

Issue

5

Publisher

American Physical Society (APS)