Heidelberg 2022 – scientific programme

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T: Fachverband Teilchenphysik

T 74: Neutrino Physics without Accelerators 5

T 74.4: Talk

Wednesday, March 23, 2022, 17:05–17:20, T-H33

Shield and detector optimization for the CONUS experiment — •Janina Hakenmüller for the CONUS collaboration — Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany

The CONUS experiment is looking for coherent elastic neutrino nucleus scattering (CEνNS) with four low energy threshold point contact high-purity Ge spectrometers. The CONUS Collaboration is exploring options for a new reactor site outside Germany to continue and extend its scientific program. In the talk, the possibilities of improvement regarding the shield and detector design will be explored. The strong neutrino flux required for a detection is provided by a nuclear power plant, where only a small overburden to shield against cosmic rays is available. The current CONUS shield employs 25 cm of lead to shield against environmental gamma rays. Cosmic ray muons create secondaries inside the lead especially neutrons, that can induce CEνNS like recoils in the detector. Even though the background is suppressed by an active muon veto, it still contributes significantly to the measured background. With the help of MC simulations improvements and alternatives of the shield design are examined. Additionally, also the impact of a larger crystal size on the background as well as potentially enhancements of detector-specific background will be discussed.