Background Studies for the MINER Coherent Neutrino Scattering Reactor Experiment

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, c...

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Published inarXiv.org
Main Authors MINER Collaboration, Agnolet, G, Baker, W, Barker, D, Beck, R, Carroll, T J, Cesar, J, Cushman, P, Dent, J B, De Rijck, S, Dutta, B, Flanagan, W, Fritts, M, Gao, Y, Harris, H R, Hays, C C, Iyer, V, Jastram, A, Kadribasic, F, Kennedy, A, Kubik, A, Ogawa, I, Lang, K, Mahapatra, R, Mandic, V, Martin, R D, Mast, N, McDeavitt, S, Mirabolfathi, N, Mohanty, B, Nakajima, K, Newhouse, J, Newstead, J L, Phan, D, Proga, M, Roberts, A, Rogachev, G, Salazar, R, Sander, J, Senapati, K, Shimada, M, Strigari, L, Tamagawa, Y, Teizer, W, Vermaak, J I C, Villano, A N, Walker, J, Webb, B, Wetzel, Z, Yadavalli, S A
Format Paper
LanguageEnglish
Published Ithaca Cornell University Library, arXiv.org 07.09.2016
Subjects
Coherent scattering
Computer simulation
Elastic scattering
Experiments
In situ measurement
Measuring instruments
Neutrinos
Nuclear reactors
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Summary: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.
ISSN:2331-8422