A D$_{2}$O detector for flux normalization of a pion decay-at-rest neutrino source

TL;DR

This paper presents the design and expected performance of a heavy-water Cherenkov detector aimed at precisely measuring the neutrino flux from a pion-decay-at-rest source at the SNS, reducing systematic uncertainties in neutrino experiments.

Contribution

It introduces a novel 592 kg heavy-water Cherenkov detector system for flux normalization at SNS, enhancing measurement precision and reducing systematic uncertainties.

Findings

Expected to measure neutrino flux with better than 5% statistical uncertainty in 2 years

First module of a two-module system aiming for 2-3% flux measurement accuracy

Significantly reduces systematic uncertainties for neutrino cross-section measurements

Abstract

We report on the technical design and expected performance of a 592 kg heavy-water-Cherenkov detector to measure the absolute neutrino flux from the pion-decay-at-rest neutrino source at the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The detector will be located roughly 20 m from the SNS target and will measure the neutrino flux with better than 5% statistical uncertainty in 2 years. This heavy-water detector will serve as the first module of a two-module detector system to ultimately measure the neutrino flux to 2-3% at both the First Target Station and the planned Second Target Station of the SNS. This detector will significantly reduce a dominant systematic uncertainty for neutrino cross-section measurements at the SNS, increasing the sensitivity of searches for new physics.