NOvA Test Beam detector calibration

The dominant systematic uncertainty for the NOvA oscillation analyses comes from our imperfect knowledge of the detectors’ calibration and response; it is therefore imperative to utilize the unique opportunity of the NOvA Test Beam experiment to characterize and calibrate our detectors without reliance on Monte Carlo simulation. The NOvA Test Beam consists of a scaled down version of the NOvA detectors and beamline instrumentation capable of identifying electrons, muons, pions, kaons and protons and measuring their tracks and momenta. In order to understand any differences between the Test Beam and the standard detectors, it is crucial to accurately calibrate the Test Beam detector.

In this poster we will present the motivation for the NOvA Test Beam experiment and the methodology employed for its detector calibration using cosmic muons. We will also describe the process of calibration in NOvA in general, as well as discuss its impact on the NOvA physics results.