Search for eV sterile neutrinos at a nuclear reactor — the Stereo project

[摘要] The re-analyses of the reference spectra of reactor antineutrinos together with a revised neutrino interaction cross section enlarged the absolute normalization of the predicted neutrino flux. The tension between previous reactor measurements and the new prediction is significant at 2.7 σ and is known as "reactor antineutrino anomaly". In combination with other anomalies encountered in neutrino oscillation measurements, this observation revived speculations about the existence of a sterile neutrino in the eV mass range. Mixing of this light sterile neutrino with the active flavours would lead to a modification of the detected antineutrino flux. An oscillation pattern in energy and space could be resolved by a detector at a distance of few meters from a reactor core: the neutrino detector of the Stereo project will be located at about 10 m distance from the ILL research reactor in Grenoble, France. Lengthwise separated in six target cells filled with 2 m3Gd-loaded liquid scintillator in total, the experiment will search for a position-dependent distortion in the energy spectrum.

[发布机构] Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, Heidelberg; D-69117, Germany^1

[效力级别] 天文学 [学科分类] 天文学(综合)

[关键词] Liquid scintillator;Neutrino detectors;Neutrino interactions;Neutrino oscillations;Oscillation patterns;Position dependents;Reference spectrum;Sterile neutrinos