Sensitivity study of a sapphire detector using Coherent Elastic Neutrino-Nucleus Scattering process

TL;DR

This study evaluates the sensitivity of a sapphire detector in measuring coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering using reactor antineutrinos, aiming to explore fundamental physics parameters and new interactions.

Contribution

It provides a phenomenological analysis of the ICNSE detector's potential to measure weak mixing angle, neutrino electromagnetic properties, and constrain new neutrino interactions.

Findings

Potential to measure weak mixing angle at low energies

Constraints on neutrino magnetic moment

Stronger limits on scalar and vector mediators

Abstract

The Indian Coherent Neutrino-nucleus Scattering Experiment(ICNSE) has been proposed at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in India to measure the coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering process using electron antineutrinos produced from reactors. Phenomenological studies are performed to find out the sensitivity of a sapphire detector for various fundamental physics parameters at an exposure of one year. Reactors of different core compositions, sizes, and thermal powers have been considered as sources of electron antineutrinos. The potential of the ICNSE to measure the weak mixing angle at a low energy regime has been extracted. Furthermore, the detector's capability has been investigated for examining the electromagnetic properties of neutrinos, including their magnetic moment. Additionally, an exploration has been conducted on the detector's sensitivity in restricting new interactions between neutrinos and electrons or nuclei, thereby constraining the parameter space related to light mediators. It is found that the ICNSE detector can put a stronger constraints on the scalar and vector mediators masses.