Tests of the Effective Weak Interaction with the World’s Smallest Neutrino Detector

Abstract

The Standard Model of particle physics is a remarkably successful predictive theory. Searches for physics beyond the Standard Model require precise predictions and precise experiments to look for subtle and unexpected deviations. This thesis investigates predictions and experiments of low energy weak interactions in the neutrino sector. Operating within the theoretical frame work of the effective weak interaction, this thesis shows how careful experiments can serve as broadband searches for new kinds of physics.In particular this thesis presents results on the first measurement of coherent elastic neutrino nucleus scattering by the COHERENT Collaboration on germanium. It also includes a follow up measurement that is the most precise measurement of CEvNS to date. These measurements, and the theoretical interventions that support them, show how future precision tests of the Standard Model in low energy neutrino physics are a complement to large colliders in their ability to probe the fundamental laws of nature.