The Metal Sandwich Detector for Low-Energy ν_e CC Directional Studies

The COHERENT Collaboration uses stopped-pion neutrinos from the Spallation Neutron Source at Oak Ridge National Lab to study low-energy neutrino-nucleus interactions on various targets. Neutrino-induced neutrons (NINs) are a contributing background for detector subsystems, generated from charged-current neutrino interactions on high-Z shielding materials like lead. In 2021, COHERENT measured a NINs rate 0.29 times lower than predicted. Continuous random phase approximation, used to make nuclear models, predicts a cross section amplitude more sensitive to the direction of the outgoing electron. The Metal Sandwich, a directional detector, will consist of alternating layers of scintillator and lead to recover lepton directionality. Moreover, by swapping out the target material, the detector will provide a unique opportunity to add to the sparse collection of experimental ν_e CC cross section measurements at low energies.