Background studies for the MINER Coherent Neutrino Scattering reactor experiment

Abstract

The proposed Mitchell Institute Neutrino Experiment at Reactor (MINER) experiment at the Nuclear Science Center at Texas A&M University will search for coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering within close proximity (about 2 meters) of a 1 MW TRIGA nuclear reactor core using low threshold, cryogenic germanium and silicon detectors. Given the Standard Model cross section of the scattering process and the proposed experimental proximity to the reactor, as many as 5 to 20 events/kg/day are expected. We discuss the status of preliminary measurements to characterize the main backgrounds for the proposed experiment. Both in situ measurements at the experimental site and simulations using the MCNP and GEANT4 codes are described. A strategy for monitoring backgrounds during data taking is briefly discussed.

The $$\nu $$ ν -cleus experiment: a gram-scale fiducial-volume cryogenic detector for the first detection of coherent neutrino–nucleus scattering

“…The close proximity to the research reactor implies great uncertainty regarding the composition and shape of backgrounds correlated to the reactor power, and thus to the neutrino signal. We use the results of a detailed background measurement and simulation campaign [7] by the MINER collaboration for our background estimate. In the framework of the MINER experiment it is planned to deploy an array of Ge cryogenic detectors in close proximity to a 1 MW research reactor [7].…”

“…We use the results of a detailed background measurement and simulation campaign [7] by the MINER collaboration for our background estimate. In the framework of the MINER experiment it is planned to deploy an array of Ge cryogenic detectors in close proximity to a 1 MW research reactor [7]. Between the reactor core and the detectors, several layers of shielding made of graphite, borated high-density polyethylene, Pb and Cu are placed.…”

“…These conditions are assumed to be comparable to the setup we are investigating in this context. Figure 14 shows the expected CNNS rates at the research reactor at a distance of 3 m from the core, along with the neutron (scaled to 10%; see below) and gamma backgrounds from [7]. Compared to those, cosmogenic backgrounds and environmental radioactivity appear to be sub-dominant in shallow labs (compare to Sect.…”

“…Multiple experimental efforts for detecting CNNS are made globally: the COHERENT experiment [3] which is currently taking data at the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) uses a combination of conventional CsI, Ge and liquid-Xe detectors. Various other experiments are planned or being commissioned such as CONNIE [4] using CCDs [5], TEX-ONO [6] using ionization-based Ge detectors, and MINER [7] and RICOCHET [8] using cryogenic detector technology.…”

Observation of Coherent Elastic Neutrino-Nucleus Scattering by COHERENT

“…There have been many attempts over the years, and attempts are ongoing (e.g., [18,19,20,21]) to measure CEvNS at nuclear reactors, where neutrino energies go up about 8 MeV. The CEvNS cross section scales as the square of the neutrino energy; furthermore, the maximum recoil energy also scales as the square of the neutrino energy, T max ∼ 2E 2 ν /M.…”