Implementing a data analysis system for the calibration of an iodine neutrino detector

• Main Author: Sages, Harry M.
• Other Authors: Ball State University. Dept. of Physics and Astronomy.
• Format: Others
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: Neutrinos > Measurement.; Particles (Nuclear physics) > Measurement.; Nuclear counters > Calibration.
• Online Access: http://cardinalscholar.bsu.edu/handle/handle/185820; http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/1048385

This study presents a comprehensive overview of the significance and results of implementing a data analysis for the calibration of an iodine neutrino detector. Previous neutrino detectors have failed to confirm the standard solar model or settle the question of a massive neutrino. An iodine detector, which was proposed in 1988, is being constructed to hopefully resolve these issues. Before the iodine detector can give conclusive results, it must first be calibrated. Because there is no standard neutrino source, these calibrations must be done indirectly. The method for calibrating the 127-Iodine detector is by using a (p,n) reaction at 0' on an iodine target and a proton beam provided by the Indiana University Cyclotron FacHity (IUCF). When a neutrino is captured by 127-Iodine, the nucleus becomes an excited state of 127-Xenon at an energy of 125 keV. By measuring the Gwnow Teller strength fimction of the transition from the ground state in 127-Iodine to the 125 keV excited state in 127-Xenon, the iodine detector can be suitably calibrated. === Department of Physics and Astronomy