2026-09-19T05:23:27Zhttps://dspace.mit.edu/server/oai/requestoai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/1056492022-01-13T07:54:07Zcom_1721.1_7582com_1721.1_7581col_1721.1_131024
Joseph A. Formaggio.
Newman, Elise (Elise S.)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Physics.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Physics
2016-12-05T19:56:28Z
2016-12-05T19:56:28Z
2016
2016
http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/105649
963850265
Thesis: S.B., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Physics, 2016.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (page 59).
This paper explores the impact of neutron backgrounds on the Ricochet experiment. The purpose of the Ricochet experiment is to determine the existence of sterile neutrinos via coherent neutrino-nucleus scattering. Coherent neutrino-nucleus scattering is an ideal detection method because it is a neutral current process. All active neutrino flavors will therefore be detected uniformly (no non-active, or sterile neutrinos will be detected because they do not couple to the Z boson). By varying the distance between the detector and the neutrino source, we consider deficits in neutrino flux to be evidence of oscillation to a fourth, non-active neutrino. Neutron backgrounds could interfere with neutrino detection. We therefore calibrate and employ Neutral Current Detectors (NCD's) for the purpose of neutron detection to measure the expected neutron spectrum incident on the detector. We furthermore design a Monte Carlo simulation to model the expected neutron capture rate of the neutrino detector in this setup.
by Elise Newman.
S.B.
59 pages
eng
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.
http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582
Physics.
Neutron backgrounds in the Ricochet experiment
Thesis
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<Abstract>This paper explores the impact of neutron backgrounds on the Ricochet experiment. The purpose of the Ricochet experiment is to determine the existence of sterile neutrinos via coherent neutrino-nucleus scattering. Coherent neutrino-nucleus scattering is an ideal detection method because it is a neutral current process. All active neutrino flavors will therefore be detected uniformly (no non-active, or sterile neutrinos will be detected because they do not couple to the Z boson). By varying the distance between the detector and the neutrino source, we consider deficits in neutrino flux to be evidence of oscillation to a fourth, non-active neutrino. Neutron backgrounds could interfere with neutrino detection. We therefore calibrate and employ Neutral Current Detectors (NCD's) for the purpose of neutron detection to measure the expected neutron spectrum incident on the detector. We furthermore design a Monte Carlo simulation to model the expected neutron capture rate of the neutrino detector in this setup.</Abstract>
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