Nuclear reactor antineutrinos, hard to detect but with a traceable lineage
by
Alejandro Sonzogni(NNDC - BNL)
→
US/Eastern
Universe
Universe
Description
The antineutrino spectrum from nuclear reactors can be calculated using the so-called “summation method”, which requires precise knowledge of the fission yield and decay properties of the about 1000 radionuclides produced in a reactor following the fission of the actinide fuel. Alternatively, the antineutrino spectra can also be calculated using the “conversion method”, which relies on precisely measured electron spectra. We have recently updated both decay and fission data that enabled us to a) identify the nuclides that contributes the most at different energy regions, b) derive a systematic of the IBD cross section integrated spectra as function of Z and A, similar to that of beta-delayed neutrons, c) asses if an excess of antineutrinos observed at around 5.5 MeV can be discerned using nuclear data.