WIDG (Weak Interaction Discussion Group) Talk: Chris Marshall, University of Rochester, “Measurement of kaon production by neutrinos”

Charged kaon production by atmospheric neutrinos is a background in searches for the proton decay p → K+ν ̄. Measurements of neutrino-induced K+ production are important inputs for current and future proton decay searches at Super-K, Hyper-K and DUNE. The MINERvA neutrino-nucleus cross section experiment at Fermilab uses timing information to isolate a sample of K+ decay-at-rest events. I will present the first differential cross section measurements for both charged- and neutral-current K+ production by neutrinos, and discuss how these measurements can be used to constrain background predictions for proton decay. I will also show the first experimental evidence for coherent K+ production by neutrinos.