Inner structure and outer limits: Precision QCD and electroweak tests from neutrino experiments .

摘要

Neutrinos are both excellent probes for discovering the secrets of QCD and elusive particles continually surprising us. This thesis reports first on a proton structure measurement, specifically the extraction of the proton structure function F₂ from CCFR neutrino-nucleon differential cross sections. The F₂ results are in good agreement with the F₂ measured in muon scattering above Q2 = 1 GeV2. Comparison of the two sets of data below Q2 = 1 GeV2, which provides information on the axial vector contribution, is discussed. The thesis also addresses the nature of neutrinos. Do neutrinos have mass? Do they have other Beyond-the-Standard-Model properties that can give us clues to their nature? Recent evidence from neutrino oscillation experiments from around the world indicate that neutrinos may oscillate between their different flavors and therefore may have mass. The MiniBooNE experiment discussed here will be able to address this oscillation phenomenon as well as other possible beyond Standard Model neutrino properties.