Mini-LANNDD T40: A detector to measure the neutrino-argon cross section and the electron-neutrino contamination in the off-axis NuMI beam

We describe a preliminary study of a 40-ton liquid argon TPC based on the ICARUS method to use in the NuMI near region in line with the LANNDD project. This reduced-scale detector, called ``Mini-LANNDD T40'', is designed for R&D purposes and systematic measures on its response. Safety concerns are a key issue, which will be discussed as well as a preliminary design of the detector. Adapted as a near or vertex detector in a neutrino beam, the Mini-LANNDD T40 is capable of observing the electron-neutrino flux in the off-axis beam, a key to use for measuring $\sin^2 2 \theta_{13}$ in the future, and measuring the low energy neutrino-argon cross-section, an important piece of information for future long baseline experiments.