Prototype reactor-antineutrino detector based on 6 Li -doped pulse-shape-discriminating plastic scintillator
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: An aboveground 60-kg reactor-antineutrino detector prototype, comprising a two-dimensional array of 36 ${}^{6}\mathrm{Li}$-doped pulse-shape-sensitive plastic scintillator bars, is described. Each bar is 50 cm long with a square cross section of 5.5 cm. Doped with ${}^{6}\mathrm{Li}$ at 0.1% by mass, the detector is capable of identifying correlated energy depositions for the detection of reactor antineutrinos via the inverse-$\ensuremath{\beta}$-decay (IDB) reaction. Each bar is wrapped with a specular reflector that directs photons toward photomultiplier tubes mounted at both ends of the bar. This paper highlights the construction, key features, and main performance characteristics of the system. The system, which relies on multiple observables such as pulse-shape discrimination, energy, position, and timing, is capable of detecting IBD-like neutron-correlated backgrounds, long-lived decay chains, and cosmogenic isotopes.
Source: Physical Review Applied
DOI: 10.1103/6t97-9bpb
Authors: O. Benevides Rodrigues, E.P. Bernard, N.S. Bowden, C. Bravo, R. Carr, T.M. Classen, A.J. Conant, S.A. Dazeley, M.T. Dunbrack, S.R. Durham, A.S. Erickson, A. Haghighat, K.M. Heeger, P. Huber, A. Irani, O. Kyzylova, V.A. Li, J.M. Link, B.R. Littlejohn, F. Machado, M.P. Mendenhall, H.P. Mumm, J. Newby, C. Roca, J. Ross, F. Sutanto, K. Walkup, J. Wilhelmi, X. Zhang, The Mobile Antineutrino Demonstrator Project
Language: English
Topic: Neutrino Physics Research
Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4415998610