Dresden 2013 – scientific programme

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T: Fachverband Teilchenphysik

T 100: Niederenergie-Neutrinophysik 2

T 100.6: Talk

Monday, March 4, 2013, 18:10–18:25, WIL-A317

The antineutrino spectrum of U238 in the context of reactor experiments — •Nils Haag, Jean Lanfranchi, Lothar Oberauer, Walter Potzel, and Klaus Schreckenbach — Technische Universität München, 85748 Garching

The exact knowledge of the antineutrino spectrum emitted from a reactor core is crucial for reactor experiments investigating neutrino oscillations (as Double Chooz) and for the correct interpretation of the reactor anomaly.

This ν_e spectrum is composed of antineutrinos from beta decays of the fission products of the four main fuel isotopes. U238, that contributes about 8 - 10 % to the power of a standard pressurised water reactor, has a significant part in the total antineutrino spectrum of a reactor core. The spectra of the other three main fuel isotopes (U235, Pu239, Pu241) were already measured several decades ago, but only recently the one from U238 could be determined in an experiment at the neutron source FRM2 in Garching. With the knowledge of this spectrum, the predictions of reactor ν_e spectra can be stated more precisely improving all reactor experiments. This talk will also point out the impact of the new measurements on the significance of the reactor anomaly which has initiated the discussion of active flavours possibly oscillating into sterile neutrinos.