Enabling the Multi-Detector Approach at JPARC: First Measurements and Future Prospects with Wagasci-BabyMIND and NINJA

The T2K experiment has operated for over a decade using the on-axis near detector INGRID and ND280 as the primary near detector for oscillation and neutrino interaction physics at 2.5 degrees off-axis, both located at JPARC. Recent upgrades to T2K include an increased power at JPARC's neutrino beamline, detector upgrades to ND280, and the installation of a second near detector, Wagasci-BabyMIND, situated at 1.5 degrees off-axis, situated underneath ND280. Wagasci-BabyMIND features both full plastic and hybrid plastic/water targets and is exposed at a different neutrino energy spectra, complementing ND280 capabilities. Additionally, it hosts the NINJA target, a water-based emulsion detector operated by the NINJA collaboration, capable of studying neutrino interactions in water with exceptionally low tracking thresholds. This presentation will showcase the first cross-section measurement from T2K using the Wagasci-BabyMIND detector and explore the enhanced physics reach and opportunities enabled by Wagasci-BabyMIND and the recently established T2K-NINJA cross-collaboration effort. Combined with INGRID and ND280, these new detectors enable a diverse and rich multi-detector approach to study neutrino physics at JPARC.