Conclusion

Abstract

Even though the Standard Model (SM) cross-section predicted for coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CEνNS) is the largest of all low-energy neutrino couplings, it had eluded detection for over four decades. This thesis described the efforts of the COHERENT collaboration that resulted in the first observation of CEνNS at a 6.7 − σ confidence level, using a low-background CsI[Na] detector with a total mass of 14.57 kg. The detector was located at the SNS, a stopped pion source at ORNL, where a pulsed proton beam impinges on a liquid mercury target producing MeV neutrinos. The CsI[Na] was deployed in a sub-basement approximately 20 m away from the target. The location provides ∼19 m of continuous shielding against beam-related backgrounds and a total of 8 m.w.e. overburden against cosmic-ray induced backgrounds.