A search for energy deposition by neutrinos in matter

TL;DR

This paper reports an exploratory experiment at CERN searching for unusual energy deposition by neutrinos in germanium, setting a new upper limit on such interactions due to the absence of observed signals.

Contribution

It introduces a novel search for anomalous neutrino energy deposition in matter and establishes a new upper limit on this phenomenon.

Findings

No anomalous energy deposition detected

Set an upper limit of about 10^-12 of normal dE/dx

Provides constraints for new physics models involving neutrino interactions

Abstract

An exploratory search for an anomalous energy deposition by neutrinos in a germanium crystal was performed in the CERN high energy neutrino beam. No signal was found and a limit is set at a level of about 10^-12 of the normal dE/dx for a minimum ionizing particle.