A Proposal for First-Ever Measurement of Coherent Neutrino-Nucleus Scattering

[摘要] We propose to build and deploy a 10-kg dual-phase argon ionization detector for the detection of coherent neutrino-nucleus scattering, which is described by the reaction; {nu} + (Z,N) {yields} {nu} + (Z,N), where {nu} is the scattering neutrino, and (Z,N) is the target nucleus of atomic number Z and neutron number N. Its detection would validate central tenets of the Standard Model. We have built a gas-phase argon ionization detector to determine the feasibility of measuring the small recoil energies ({approx} 1keV) predicted from coherent neutrino scattering, and to characterize the recoil spectrum of the argon nuclei induced by scattering from medium-energy neutrons. We present calibrations made with 55-Fe, a low-energy X-ray source, and report on measurements to date of the recoil spectra from the 2-MeV LINAC Li-target neutron source at LLNL. A high signal-to-noise measurement of the recoil spectrum will not only serve as an important milestone in achieving the sensitivity necessary for measuring coherent neutrino-nucleus scattering, but will break new scientific ground on its own.

[发布日期] 2008-02-05

[学科分类] 核物理和高能物理

[关键词] ARGON;ATOMIC NUMBER;DETECTION;IONIZATION;LINEAR ACCELERATORS;NEUTRINOS;NEUTRON SOURCES;NEUTRONS;NUCLEI;SCATTERING;SENSITIVITY;SPECTRA;STANDARD MODEL;TARGETS;X-RAY SOURCES