CEvNS N2 Scaling Test Preparation: Characterization of NaI[Tl] Scintillating Crystal
Faculty Sponsor(s)
Jennifer Heath
Location
Vivian A. Bull Music Center: Delkin Recital Hall
Subject Area
Physics/Applied Physics
Description
The COHERENT collaboration is dedicated to measuring Coherent Elastic Neutrino-Nucleus Scattering (CEvNS), an interaction predicted by the standard model that ultimately serves as a background floor for dark matter detection. In the pursuit of observing the N2 scaling predicted, COHERENT is deploying nine tons of NaI[Tl] detector to observe CEvNS recoils of sodium nuclei. Before the nine tons of this NaI[Tl] scintillator are deployed, however, all crystals and PMTs must be characterized to understand the individual properties vital to precision in the measurement of CEvNS. This detector is also expected to allow COHERENT to observe charged current and CEvNS interactions with 127I. In this work, a standard operating procedure is developed to characterize each detector based on seven properties relevant to precision in the measurement of CEvNS: energy scale, energy resolution, low-energy light yield non-linearity, decay time energy dependence, position variance, time variance, and background levels. Crystals and PMTs will be tested and characterized for these properties in the context of a ton-scale NaI[Tl] detector. Preliminary development of the SOP has allowed for greater understanding of optimization methods needed for characterization for the ton scale detector. The SOP for characterizing these detectors is in its final stages. Finalization of the SOP will allow for characterizing these detectors on the mass scale needed given the unusually large volume of scintillator to be deployed for the collaboration.
Recommended Citation
Maier, Alleta, "CEvNS N2 Scaling Test Preparation: Characterization of NaI[Tl] Scintillating Crystal" (2018). Linfield University Student Symposium: A Celebration of Scholarship and Creative Achievement. Event. Submission 35.
https://digitalcommons.linfield.edu/symposium/2018/all/35
CEvNS N2 Scaling Test Preparation: Characterization of NaI[Tl] Scintillating Crystal
Vivian A. Bull Music Center: Delkin Recital Hall
The COHERENT collaboration is dedicated to measuring Coherent Elastic Neutrino-Nucleus Scattering (CEvNS), an interaction predicted by the standard model that ultimately serves as a background floor for dark matter detection. In the pursuit of observing the N2 scaling predicted, COHERENT is deploying nine tons of NaI[Tl] detector to observe CEvNS recoils of sodium nuclei. Before the nine tons of this NaI[Tl] scintillator are deployed, however, all crystals and PMTs must be characterized to understand the individual properties vital to precision in the measurement of CEvNS. This detector is also expected to allow COHERENT to observe charged current and CEvNS interactions with 127I. In this work, a standard operating procedure is developed to characterize each detector based on seven properties relevant to precision in the measurement of CEvNS: energy scale, energy resolution, low-energy light yield non-linearity, decay time energy dependence, position variance, time variance, and background levels. Crystals and PMTs will be tested and characterized for these properties in the context of a ton-scale NaI[Tl] detector. Preliminary development of the SOP has allowed for greater understanding of optimization methods needed for characterization for the ton scale detector. The SOP for characterizing these detectors is in its final stages. Finalization of the SOP will allow for characterizing these detectors on the mass scale needed given the unusually large volume of scintillator to be deployed for the collaboration.
