Belina von Krosigk
(Dresden University of Technology)
Abstract:
SNO+, the successor of the SNO (Sudbury Neutrino Observatory) experiment, is an upcoming low energy neutrino experiment with about 800 t of LAB (linear alkylbenzene) based liquid scintillator as active medium. The primary physics goal of SNO+ is the search for the neutrinoless double beta decay of 130Te. Furthermore, the detector has the potential to observe, for instance, solar, supernova, reactor and geo neutrinos. To build a reliable background model, develop sophisticated tagging techniques and predict signal spectra, the scintillator response to different particles needs to be well-known.
Within this presentation, SNO+ will be introduced, the expectations from a solar neutrino (pep, 8B, 7Be) observation discussed and measurements of the light response to alphas and protons, and the motivation for it, presented. The alpha light yield is of particular interest for the neutrinoless double beta decay as some possible alpha backgrounds fall into the region of interest. The proton light yield instead is especially interesting for an observation of supernova neutrinos, since one of the main detection channels is neutrino proton scattering. The capabilities of this channel will be shown in more detail.