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A novel segmented-scintillator antineutrino detector

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Abreu_2017_J._Inst._12_P04024.pdfPublished version2.29 MBAdobe PDFView/Open
Title: A novel segmented-scintillator antineutrino detector
Authors: Abreu, Y
Amhis, Y
Arnold, L
Ban, G
Beaumont, W
Bongrand, M
Boursette, D
Buhour, JM
Castle, BC
Clark, K
Coupe, B
Cucoanes, AS
Cussans, D
De Roeck, A
D'Hondt, J
Durand, D
Fallot, M
Fresneau, S
Ghys, L
Giot, L
Guillon, B
Guilloux, G
Ihantola, S
Janssen, X
Kalcheva, S
Kalousis, LN
Koonen, E
Labare, M
Lehaut, G
Mermans, J
Michiels, I
Moortgat, C
Newbold, D
Park, J
Petridis, K
Pinera, IA
Pommery, G
Popescu, L
Pronost, G
Rademacker, J
Reynolds, A
Ryckbosch, D
Ryder, N
Saunders, D
Shitov, YA
Schune, M-H
Scovell, PR
Simard, L
Vacheret, A
Van Dyck, S
Van Mulders, P
Van Remortel, N
Vercaemer, S
Waldron, A
Weber, A
Yermia, F
Item Type: Journal Article
Abstract: The next generation of very-short-baseline reactor experiments will require compact detectors operating at surface level and close to a nuclear reactor. This paper presents a new detector concept based on a composite solid scintillator technology. The detector target uses cubes of polyvinyltoluene interleaved with ⁶LiF:ZnS(Ag) phosphor screens to detect the products of the inverse beta decay reaction. A multi-tonne detector system built from these individual cells can provide precise localisation of scintillation signals, making efficient use of the detector volume. Monte Carlo simulations indicate that a neutron capture efficiency of over 70 % is achievable with a sufficient number of ⁶LiF:ZnS(Ag) screens per cube and that an appropriate segmentation enables a measurement of the positron energy which is not limited by γ-ray leakage. First measurements of a single cell indicate that a very good neutron-gamma discrimination and high neutron detection efficiency can be obtained with adequate triggering techniques. The light yield from positron signals has been measured, showing that an energy resolution of 14%/√E(MeV) is achievable with high uniformity. A preliminary neutrino signal analysis has been developed, using selection criteria for pulse shape, energy, time structure and energy spatial distribution and showing that an antineutrino efficiency of 40% can be achieved. It also shows that the fine segmentation of the detector can be used to significantly decrease both correlated and accidental backgrounds.
Issue Date: 1-Apr-2017
Date of Acceptance: 30-Mar-2017
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/57563
DOI: 10.1088/1748-0221/12/04/P04024
ISSN: 1748-0221
Publisher: IOP Publishing
Journal / Book Title: Journal of Instrumentation
Volume: 12
Issue: 4
Copyright Statement: © CERN 2017, published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License by IOP Publishing Ltd and Sissa Medialab srl. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation and DOI.
Sponsor/Funder: Commission of the European Communities
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
Funder's Grant Number: 682474
ST/I00422X/1
ST/N000242/1
Keywords: Science & Technology
Technology
Instruments & Instrumentation
Neutrino detectors
Calorimeters
Neutron detectors (cold, thermal, fast neutrons)
Particle identification methods
NEUTRONS
NEUTRINO
Science & Technology
Technology
Instruments & Instrumentation
Neutrino detectors
Calorimeters
Neutron detectors (cold, thermal, fast neutrons)
Particle identification methods
NEUTRINO
NEUTRONS
physics.ins-det
physics.ins-det
hep-ex
Nuclear & Particles Physics
02 Physical Sciences
09 Engineering
Publication Status: Published
Open Access location: http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-0221/12/04/P04024/pdf
Article Number: ARTN P04024
Online Publication Date: 2017-04-21
Appears in Collections:Physics
High Energy Physics
Faculty of Natural Sciences