New Limits on Coherent Neutrino Nucleus Elastic Scattering Cross Section at the Kuo-Sheng Reactor Neutrino Laboratory

Abstract

Neutrino nucleus elastic scattering (νAel) with reactor neutrinos is an interaction under full quantum-mechanical coherence. It has not yet been experimentally observed. We present new results on the studies of νAel cross section with an electro-cooled p-type point-contact germanium detector at the Kuo-Sheng Reactor Neutrino laboratory. A total of (242)357 kg-days of Reactor ON(OFF) data at a detector threshold of 200 eVee in electron equivalent unit are analyzed. The Lindhard model parametrized by a single variable k which characterizes the quenching function was used. Limits at 90% confidence level are derived on the ratio ρ relative to standard model (SM) cross section of ρ<4.7 at the predicted value of k=0.162, while k<0.285 at the SM-value of ρ=1. Prospects on future positive measurements are discussed.

6 pages, 4 figures