Speaker
Description
The discovery of coherent elastic neutrino nucleus scattering (CEvNS) has brought about a rich physics program after it was first detected almost a decade ago by the COHERENT collaboration. The sole observable for a CEvNS interaction is a very rare low-energy nuclear recoil, requiring both an intense neutrino source and a low detection threshold. An additional pathway towards CEvNS detection that provides the possibility for lowering the detection threshold to new levels is by taking advantage of advances in quantum sensors. The Phonon Observation of Neutrinos via Optical Nanodefects (PHONON) project seeks to exploit these techniques providing a new pathway to CEvNS detection at both accelerator and reactor neutrino sources. The detector operates by coupling quantum spins to acoustic resonators in a silicon carbide layer enabling the detection of athermal phonons in a neutron-rich absorber material such as lithium niobate (LiNbO$_3$). The application of high overtone bulk acoustic resonators (HBARs) allows for single phonon sensitivity and possible directional capabilities. The current experimental work demonstrates the feasibility of phonon detection. In addition, modeling and simulations of the detector system and the shielding from backgrounds such as neutrons and gammas to understand the energy thresholds needed for a robust CEvNS detection and the expected signal from CEvNS nuclear recoils. This poster will discuss the PHONON project and the recent results on first experimental tests of the detector components towards a CEvNS deployment. I will also discuss the results of neutrino signal and background simulations showing the capability to make a CEvNS detection at both an accelerator and reactor neutrino source.