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

作者：Strauss R^*; Rothe J; Angloher G; Bento A; Guetlein A; Hauff D; Kluck H; Mancuso M; Oberauer L; Petricca F; Proebst F; Schieck J; Schoenert S; Seidel W; Stodolsky L

来源：European Physical Journal C, 2017, 77(8): 506.

DOI：10.1140/epjc/s10052-017-5068-2

We discuss a small-scale experiment, called nu-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 gamma, neutron and surface backgrounds. A first prototype Al2O3 device, operated above ground in a setup without shielding, has achieved an energy threshold of similar to 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 (5 sigma) within ameasuring time of less than or similar to 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.

• 出版日期2017-7-31