Comprehensive revision of the summation method for the prediction of reactor ν¯e fluxes and spectra

Le résumé fourni par la source

Nuclear reactors are the most copious human-made source of electron antineutrinos (${\overline{\ensuremath{\nu}}}_{e}$) on Earth; yet, determining their flux and spectrum with accuracy remains a considerable challenge. In fact, measurements of the antineutrino flux from reactors have shown a deficit with respect to predictions, which has become known as the reactor antineutrino anomaly. This work combines a careful analysis of up-to-date nuclear decay data with advanced theoretical corrections to the $V$-$A$ theory of $\ensuremath{\beta}$ decay to produce, for the first time, a flux prediction with a comprehensive uncertainty budget. This new prediction achieves a better agreement with existing experimental neutrino data and methodically pins down points for improvements. It will likely stimulate targeted research to check and improve the experimental inputs, with potentially wide-ranging impact, from weak-interaction physics to many aspects of nuclear reactor science and technology.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.