Antineutrino Spectroscopy with Large Water Čerenkov Detectors

2003/09/26 by J. F. Beacom, John F. Beacom, M. R. Vagins +1 · 2 voices · 10 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Neutrino Physics Research #Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena #Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena

paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.93.171101

Abstract

We propose modifying large water \ifmmode \checkC\else \vC\fierenkov detectors by the addition of 0.2% gadolinium trichloride, which is highly soluble, newly inexpensive, and transparent in solution. Since Gd has an enormous cross section for radiative neutron capture, with \ensuremath∑E_\ensuremathγ=8 MeV, this would make neutrons visible for the first time in such detectors, allowing antineutrino tagging by the coincidence detection reaction \ensuremathν_e+p\ensuremath→e⁺+n (similarly for \ensuremathν_\ensuremathμ). Taking Super-Kamiokande as a working example, dramatic consequences for reactor neutrino measurements, first observation of the diffuse supernova neutrino background, galactic supernova detection, and other topics are discussed.

Cited by

• Enhanced antineutrino emission from β decay in core-collapse supernovae with self-consistent weak decay rates
• Reconstruction of neutrino events in the Accelerator Neutrino Neutron Interaction Experiment: Part I
• What can be learned from a future supernova neutrino detection?
• Search for Neutrino Counterparts to Gravitational Wave Events in Super-Kamiokande during the LIGO/Virgo/KAGRA O4 Observing Run
• Neutrino physics with JUNO
• First Light from Beam Neutrinos on an LAPPD in ANNIE
• Neutrino non-radiative decay in matter: constraints and prospects
• Measuring Leptonic CP Violation with a Water Cerenkov
• Cosmological and astrophysical neutrino mass measurements
• Diffuse supernova neutrinos at underground laboratories

Discussions

• My favorite science acronym is GADZOOKS! Gadolinium Antineutrino Detec­tor Zealously Outperforming Old Kamiokande, Super! Yes the exclamation point is part of it This is kinda an old paper, but I h [bsky, 13 points, 2 comments]
• It's too early to be sure, but this is very encouraging! Some of our key papers behind this result include the one proposing to add gadolinium to Super-Kamiokande (Beacom and Vagins, arxiv.org/abs/hep [bsky, 4 points, 1 comments]

Related

• Gadolinium study for a water Cherenkov detector
• Supernova spotting in Super-Kamiokande Gd
• Upgrade of Super-Kamiokande with Gadolinium
• Evaluation of Gadolinium's Action on Water Cherenkov Detector Systems with EGADS
• Latest results from Super-Kamiokande