Antineutrino Spectroscopy with Large Water Čerenkov Detectors

John F. Beacom and Mark R. Vagins
Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 171101 – Published 20 October 2004

Abstract

We propose modifying large water Čerenkov 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 Eγ=8MeV, this would make neutrons visible for the first time in such detectors, allowing antineutrino tagging by the coincidence detection reaction ν¯e+pe++n (similarly for ν¯μ). 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.

  • Figure
  • Received 25 September 2003

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.93.171101

©2004 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

John F. Beacom1 and Mark R. Vagins2

  • 1NASA/Fermilab Astrophysics Center, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Batavia, Illinois 60510-0500, USA
  • 2Department of Physics and Astronomy, 4129 Reines Hall, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, USA

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Issue

Vol. 93, Iss. 17 — 22 October 2004

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