Observation of Coherent Elastic Neutrino-Nucleus Scattering

The coherent elastic scattering of neutrinos off nuclei has eluded detection for four decades, even though its predicted cross-section is the largest by far of all low-energy neutrino couplings. This mode of interaction provides new opportunities to study neutrino properties, and leads to a miniaturization of detector size, with potential technological applications. We observe this process at a 6.7-sigma confidence level, using a low-background, 14.6-kg CsI[Na] scintillator exposed to the neutrino emissions from the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Characteristic signatures in energy and time, predicted by the Standard Model for this process, are observed in high signal-to-background conditions. Improved constraints on non-standard neutrino interactions with quarks are derived from this initial dataset

First search for Lorentz and CPT violation in double beta decay with EXO-200

A search for Lorentz- and CPT-violating signals in the double beta decay spectrum of Xe-136 has been performed using an exposure of 100 kg . yr with the EXO-200 detector. No significant evidence of the spectral modification due to isotropic Lorentz -violation was found, and a two-sided limit of -2.65 x 10(-5) GeV < (a)(of),(,3r) < 7.60 x 10(-6) GeV (90% C.L.) is placed on the relevant coefficient within the Standard -Model Extension (SME). This is the first experimental study of the effect of the SME-defined oscillation -free and momentum-independent neutrino coupling operator on the double beta decay process. © 2016 American Physical Society112111sciescopu