Search for \nu_{\tau} interactions with the nuclear emulsion films of the OPERA experiment

Abstract

The OPERA experiment aims at measuring the \nu_{\mu} -> \nu_{\tau} oscillation through the \nu_{\tau} appearance in an almost pure \nu_{\mu} beam (CNGS). For the direct identification of the short-lived {\tau} lepton, produced in \nu_{\tau} CC interactions, a micrometric detection resolution is needed. Therefore the OPERA detector makes use of nuclear emulsion films, the highest spatial resolution tracking device, combined with lead plates in an emulsion cloud chamber (ECC) structure called 'brick'. In this paper the nuclear emulsion analysis chain is reported; the strategy and the algorithms set up will be described together with their performances.