Coherent Neutrino-Nucleus Scattering Research Articles

The ν-cleus experiment: Gram-scale cryogenic calorimeters for a discovery of coherent neutrino scattering

We investigate new gram-scale cryogenic detectors, 1-2 orders of magnitude smaller in size than previous devices. These are expected to reach unprecedentedly low energy thresholds, in the 10 eV-regime and below. This technology allows new approaches in rare-event searches, including the search for MeV-scale dark matter, detection of solar neutrinos and a rapid discovery of coherent neutrino-nucleus scattering (CNNS) at a nuclear reactor. We show a simple scaling law for the performance of cryogenic calorimeters, allowing the extrapolation of existing device performances to smaller sizes. Measurement results with a 0.5 g sapphire detector are presented. This prototype reached a threshold of 20 eV, which is one order of magnitude lower than previous results with massive calorimeters. We discuss an experiment, called ν-cleus, which enables a 5-σ discovery of CNNS within about 2 weeks of measuring time at 40 m distance from a power reactor. In a second stage, this experiment enables precision measurements of the CNNS cross-section and spectral shape for new physics within and beyond the Standard Model.

A method to define the energy threshold depending on noise level for rare event searches

Solid state detectors and cryogenic detectors are widely employed in rare event searches, such as direct Dark Matter detection or Coherent Neutrino Nucleus Scattering experiments. The excellent sensitivity and, consequently, their low energy thresholds are among the most appealing features of such detectors. We present a method to quantify the lowest trigger threshold achievable as a function of the acceptable amount of noise events triggered for the physics case under investigation. We then apply this novel method to existing experimental and simulated data to validate the model we presented.

Results from 2015 and the 2016 upgrade of the CONNIE experiment for detecting coherent neutrino nucleus scattering

The CONNIE Experiment (Coherent Neutrino Nucleus Interaction Experiment) is currently collecting reactor neutrino data to search for the undiscovered standard model process of coherent neutrino-nucleus scattering (CNNS). The detector is composed of a silicon target of thick, fully-depleted, low-noise CCD detectors. Results from data collected in 2015 indicate backgrounds are controlled, and allow an estimate of sensitivity to be presented for a larger scale detector. A 2016 upgrade, adding additional target mass, and reducing readout noise, has been performed, increasing the total yield of signal events by a factor of 30, and already yielding science-quality data. Low-energy nuclear calibrations have been performed, enabling calibration down to the device energy threshold. An estimate of the sensitivity expected for measuring the coherent neutrino process is presented. Future prospects with improved detector energy thresholds are estimated.

Solar neutrinos as a signal and background in direct-detection experiments searching for sub-GeV dark matter with electron recoils

Direct-detection experiments sensitive to low-energy electron recoils from sub-GeV dark matter (DM) interactions will also be sensitive to solar neutrinos via coherent neutrino-nucleus scattering (CNS), since the recoiling nucleus can produce a small ionization signal. Solar neutrinos constitute both an interesting signal in their own right and a potential background to a DM search that cannot be controlled or reduced by improved shielding, material purification and handling, or improved detector design. We explore these two possibilities in detail for semiconductor (Si and Ge) and Xe targets, considering several possibilities for the unmeasured ionization efficiency at low energies. For DM-electron-scattering searches, neutrinos start being an important background for exposures larger than ~1-10 kg-years in Si and Ge, and for exposures larger than ~0.1-1 kg-year in Xe. For the absorption of bosonic DM (dark photons and axion-like particles) by electrons, neutrinos are most relevant for masses below ~1 keV and again slightly more important in Xe. Treating the neutrinos as a signal, we find that the CNS of B-8 neutrinos can be observed with ~2 sigma significance with exposures of ~2, 7, and 20 kg-years in Xe, Ge, and Si, respectively, assuming there are no other backgrounds. We give an example for how this would constrain non-standard neutrino interactions. Neutrino components at lower energy can only be detected if the ionization efficiency is sufficiently large. In this case, observing pep neutrinos via CNS requires exposures ~10-100 kg-years in Si or Ge (~1000 kg-years in Xe), and observing CNO neutrinos would require an order of magnitude more exposure. Only Si could potentially detect Be-7 neutrinos. These measurements would allow for a direct measurement of the electron-neutrino survival probability over a wide energy range.

Cryogenic Silicon Detectors with Implanted Contacts for the Detection of Visible Photons Using the Neganov–Trofimov–Luke Effect

There is a common need in astroparticle experiments such as direct dark matter detection, 0{\nu}\b{eta}\b{eta} (double beta decay without emission of neutrinos) and Coherent Neutrino Nucleus Scattering experiments for light detectors with a very low energy threshold. By employing the Neganov-Luke Effect, the thermal signal of particle interactions in a semiconductor absorber operated at cryogenic temperatures, can be amplified by drifting the photogenerated electrons and holes in an electric field. This technology is not used in current experiments, in particular because of a reduction of the signal amplitude with time which is due to trapping of the charges within the absorber. We present here the first results of a novel type of Neganov-Luke Effect detector with an electric field configuration designed to improve the charge collection within the semiconductor.

Neutron Background Characterization for a Coherent Neutrino-Nucleus Scattering experiment at SNS

Neutron Background Characterization for a Coherent Neutrino-Nucleus Scattering experiment at SNS

Measuring the Low Energy Nuclear Quenching Factor in Liquid Argon for a Coherent Neutrino Scatter Detector

Coherent neutrino-nucleus scattering (CNS) is an as-yet undetected, flavor-independent neutrino interaction predicted by the Standard Model [D. Freedman, Phys. Rev. D 9 (5) (1974) 1389–1392]. One of the primary reasons the CNS interaction has yet to be observed is the very low energy depositions (less than 1 keV for MeV-energy neutrinos) [A. Drukier, L. Stodolsky, Phys. Rev. D 30 (11) (1984) 2295–2309]. An additional challenge in detecting CNS is nuclear quenching, which is a phenomenon encountered in many detection materials in which nuclear recoils produce less observable energy per unit energy deposited than electronic recoils. The ratio observed signal for nuclear recoils to electronic recoils or nuclear ionization quench factor, is presently unknown in argon at typical CNS energies [C. Hagmann, A. Bernstein, IEEE Trans. on Nucl. Sci. 51 (5) (2004) 2151–2155]. Here we present plans for using the Gamma or Neutron Argon Recoils Resulting in Liquid Ionization (G/NARRLI) detector to measure the nuclear ionization quench factor at ∼8 keV.

Development of a Cryogenic Detector for Coherent Neutrino Nucleus Scattering

In Coherent Neutrino Nucleus Scattering (CNNS) the neutrinos interact coherently with all nucleons leading to a cross section which is much larger than for all other neutrino interactions. Because of the small momentum transfer as well as the small recoil energy in CNNS, and the relatively low count rate, a low energy threshold and a large target mass (several hundred grams) are required to observe CNNS. Our aim is to build a cryodetector for that purpose. Such a cryodetector, installed in the vicinity of a nuclear power plant, could probe new physics like non-standard neutral current interactions or a neutrino magnetic moment. We describe the results of three detectors, with Ge absorbers of 0.8 and 3.2 g and with a CaWO4 absorber of 10 g. For Ge (0.8 g) an energy threshold of 0.43 keV and an energy resolution of 0.27 keV at ∼6 keV could be reached. We demonstrate that surface roughness effects deteriorate both threshold and resolution. For the 10 g CaWO4 absorber we obtained 0.27 keV and 0.35 keV for threshold and energy resolution at ∼6 keV respectively.