4–8 Aug 2015
America/Detroit timezone

Sensitivity and Discovery Potential of the PROSPECT Experiment

5 Aug 2015, 16:40
20m
Hussey (Michigan League)

Hussey

Michigan League

Neutrino Experiment Neutrino Physics

Speaker

Dr Karin Gilje (Illinois Institute of Technology)

Description

Measurements of the reactor antineutrino flux and spectrum compared to model predictions have revealed an apparent deficit in the interaction rates of reactor antineutrinos and an unexpected spectral deviation. PROSPECT, the Precision Reactor Oscillation SPECTrum measurement, is designed to make a precision measurement of the antineutrino spectrum from a research reactor and search for signs of sterile neutrinos. PROSPECT will be located at the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and make use of a Highly Enriched Uranium reactor for a measurement of the pure U-235 antineutrino spectrum. An absolute measurement of this spectrum will constrain reactor models and improve our understanding of the reactor antineutrino spectrum. Additionally, the planned 2-ton Lithium-doped liquid scintillator detector is ideally suited to perform a search for sterile neutrinos on the eV scale. This talk will focus on the sensitivity and discovery potential of PROSPECT and the detector design to achieve these goals.
Oral or Poster Presentation Oral

Author

Dr Karin Gilje (Illinois Institute of Technology)

Presentation materials