We present a new experimental method for measuring the process of Coherent Elastic Neutrino Nucleus Scattering (CENNS). This method uses a detector situated transverse to a high energy neutrino beam production target. This detector would be sensitive to the low energy neutrinos arising from pion decays-at-rest in the target. We discuss the physics motivation for making this measurement and outline the predicted backgrounds and sensitivities using this approach. We report a measurement of neutron backgrounds as found in an off-axis surface location of the Fermilab Booster Neutrino Beam (BNB) target. The results indicate that the Fermilab BNB target is a favorable location for a CENNS experiment.

I would first like to thank the members of my committee for their time, support, and evaluation of my work. In particular to my adviser, Rex Tayloe, thank you for your guidance and expertise. You assisted me through the vast majority of my graduate career at IU, helped shape this thesis and analysis, and taught me what it is to be a physicist. It has been a privilege to work with you over these years. I would like to thank Indiana University and the Physics Department and Center for the Exploration of Energy and Matter in particular for making my graduate career possible. To the secretaries and staff, thank you for supporting the work of all graduate students with kindness and patience. I also thank the National Science Foundation for funding this research

The SciBath-768 detector is a prototype neutral particle detector offering high-precision reconstruction of neutrino and neutron events. It consists of a three dimensional grid of 768 wavelengthshifting fibers immersed in 82 liters of liquid scintillator. Initially conceived as a charged particle detector for neutrino studies, it is also sensitive to fast neutrons (1-100 MeV). Simulation results show 30% efficiency and 30% energy resolution for 1-10 MeV tagged neutron events. The apparatus has been commissioned and will be deployed in Fall 2011 to measure neutrinos and neutrons 100 meters underground in the Fermilab MINOS near-detector area.

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