Abstract
dc:description.abstractNeutrinos hold the promise of untangling many unresolved questions in particle physics. Their unique properties and behaviors offer a distinctive window into understanding the fundamentals of the universe, potentially providing answers to some of the most deep puzzles in modern physics. CEνNS, or Coherent Elastic Neutrino-Nucleus Scattering, is a process where a neutrino interacts with an atomic nucleus and scatters away, leaving the nucleus to recoil. CEνNS is an important area of study for understanding neutrino properties as well as their role in the universe. The COHERENT collaboration was the first to measure CEνNS, using neutrinos from the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS). The direct measurement of the SNS neutrino flux is vital for the precision of CEνNS measurements. This work introduces the latest addition to the COHERENT's armory –a D2O detector specifically designed to measure the SNS neutrino flux. In the present dissertation, the emphasis is made on the steps taken to operationalize COHERENT's D2O detector. This work unfolds the intensive simulation work directed to determine the detector's optimal design, ensuring it stands strong to the demands of neutrino physics experiments. Establishing the detector's calibration is essential to its operational phase. A dedicated calibration system, described in detail in this work, has been developed, utilizing encapsulated LED flashers controlled by a microcontroller unit to ensure the systematic and reliable calibration of the detector. A significant portion of the document is devoted to the calibration analysis, where we use Michel electrons to obtain an energy scale for the detector, thereby ensuring the reliability and accuracy of the future neutrino flux measurements.
Degree
thesis:*- Name thesis:degree_name
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Level thesis:degree_level
- doctoral
- Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
- Physics
- Department dc:contributor.department
- Physics
- Grantor dc:publisher
- Virginia Tech
- Year dc:date.issued
- 2023
Author and committee
dc:creator, dc:contributor.*- Author dc:creator
-
- Tellez-Giron-Flores, Karla Rosita
- Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
-
- Link, Jonathan M.
- Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
-
- Takeuchi, Tatsu
- Huber, Patrick
- O'Donnell, Thomas
Subjects
dc:subject × 4Rights
dc:rights- Statement dc:rights
-
- Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
- Licence dc:rights.uri
- Language dc:language.iso
- en
Identifiers
dc:identifier.*- Dc Identifier Other
- vt_gsexam:38779
- OAI identifier oai:identifier
- oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/116665