Reactor antineutrino anomaly

G. Mention, M. Fechner, Th. Lasserre, Th. A. Mueller, D. Lhuillier, M. Cribier, and A. Letourneau
Phys. Rev. D 83, 073006 – Published 29 April 2011

Abstract

Recently, new reactor antineutrino spectra have been provided for U235, Pu239, Pu241, and U238, increasing the mean flux by about 3%. To a good approximation, this reevaluation applies to all reactor neutrino experiments. The synthesis of published experiments at reactor-detector distances <100m leads to a ratio of observed event rate to predicted rate of 0.976±0.024. With our new flux evaluation, this ratio shifts to 0.943±0.023, leading to a deviation from unity at 98.6% C.L. which we call the reactor antineutrino anomaly. The compatibility of our results with the existence of a fourth nonstandard neutrino state driving neutrino oscillations at short distances is discussed. The combined analysis of reactor data, gallium solar neutrino calibration experiments, and MiniBooNE-ν data disfavors the no-oscillation hypothesis at 99.8% C.L. The oscillation parameters are such that |Δmnew2|>1.5eV2 (95%) and sin2(2θnew)=0.14±0.08 (95%). Constraints on the θ13 neutrino mixing angle are revised.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
9 More
  • Received 14 January 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.83.073006

© 2011 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

G. Mention1, M. Fechner1, Th. Lasserre1,2,*, Th. A. Mueller3, D. Lhuillier3, M. Cribier1,2, and A. Letourneau3

  • 1CEA, Irfu, SPP, Centre de Saclay, F-91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
  • 2Astroparticule et Cosmologie APC, 10 rue Alice Domon et Léonie Duquet, 75205 Paris cedex 13, France
  • 3CEA, Irfu, SPhN, Centre de Saclay, F-91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France

  • *Corresponding author: thierry.lasserre@cea.fr

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 83, Iss. 7 — 1 April 2011

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review D

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×