2019/04/02 by Bjorn J. Scholz · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #nucl-ex
paper · pdf · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-99747-6
published as Springer Theses, Recognizing Outstanding Ph.D. Research (2018) · This dissertation was submitted to the faculty of the Division of Physical Sciences at the University of Chicago in candidacy for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. It was successfully defended on October 16, 2017
arxiv created 2019/04/02 · arxiv updated 2019/04/03
Coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CEνNS) has the largest predicted cross-section of all low-energy neutrino couplings. However, as a neutral-current interaction, the only experimental signature of CEνNS is a low-energy nuclear recoil, which made its detection challenging. CEνNS remained unobserved for over four decades. This thesis describes the experiment that resulted in a CEνNS observation at a 6.7-sigma confidence level. A low-background, 14.6-kg CsI[Na] scintillator was exposed to the neutrino emissions from the Spallation Neutron Source at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Characteristic CEνNS signatures in energy and time, compatible with predictions from the Standard Model, were observed in high signal-to-background conditions. CEνNS provides new opportunities to study neutrino properties, and enables the miniaturization of detectors.