TY - JOUR
T1 - The ν -cleus experiment
T2 - a gram-scale fiducial-volume cryogenic detector for the first detection of coherent neutrino–nucleus scattering
AU - Strauss, R.
AU - Rothe, J.
AU - Angloher, G.
AU - Bento, A.
AU - Gütlein, A.
AU - Hauff, D.
AU - Kluck, H.
AU - Mancuso, M.
AU - Oberauer, L.
AU - Petricca, F.
AU - Pröbst, F.
AU - Schieck, J.
AU - Schönert, S.
AU - Seidel, W.
AU - Stodolsky, L.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017, The Author(s).
PY - 2017/8/1
Y1 - 2017/8/1
N2 - We discuss a small-scale experiment, called ν-cleus, for the first detection of coherent neutrino–nucleus scattering by probing nuclear-recoil energies down to the 10 eV regime. The detector consists of low-threshold CaWO4 and Al2O3 calorimeter arrays with a total mass of about 10 g and several cryogenic veto detectors operated at millikelvin temperatures. Realizing a fiducial volume and a multi-element target, the detector enables active discrimination of γ, neutron and surface backgrounds. A first prototype Al2O3 device, operated above ground in a setup without shielding, has achieved an energy threshold of ∼ 20 eV and further improvements are in reach. A sensitivity study for the detection of coherent neutrino scattering at nuclear power plants shows a unique discovery potential (5σ) within a measuring time of ≲ 2 weeks. Furthermore, a site at a thermal research reactor and the use of a radioactive neutrino source are investigated. With this technology, real-time monitoring of nuclear power plants is feasible.
AB - We discuss a small-scale experiment, called ν-cleus, for the first detection of coherent neutrino–nucleus scattering by probing nuclear-recoil energies down to the 10 eV regime. The detector consists of low-threshold CaWO4 and Al2O3 calorimeter arrays with a total mass of about 10 g and several cryogenic veto detectors operated at millikelvin temperatures. Realizing a fiducial volume and a multi-element target, the detector enables active discrimination of γ, neutron and surface backgrounds. A first prototype Al2O3 device, operated above ground in a setup without shielding, has achieved an energy threshold of ∼ 20 eV and further improvements are in reach. A sensitivity study for the detection of coherent neutrino scattering at nuclear power plants shows a unique discovery potential (5σ) within a measuring time of ≲ 2 weeks. Furthermore, a site at a thermal research reactor and the use of a radioactive neutrino source are investigated. With this technology, real-time monitoring of nuclear power plants is feasible.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85026843794&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1140/epjc/s10052-017-5068-2
DO - 10.1140/epjc/s10052-017-5068-2
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85026843794
SN - 1434-6044
VL - 77
JO - European Physical Journal C
JF - European Physical Journal C
IS - 8
M1 - 506
ER -