Studies of Neutrino-Electron Scattering at the Kuo-Sheng Reactor Neutrino Laboratory

TL;DR

This study measured neutrino-electron scattering at a nuclear reactor, confirming Standard Model predictions, and set new limits on neutrino magnetic moments and charge radius with a large scintillating detector.

Contribution

It provides the first precise measurement of neutrino-electron scattering at a reactor with a large CsI(Tl) detector, testing Standard Model predictions and constraining neutrino electromagnetic properties.

Findings

Measured cross section consistent with Standard Model

Derived limits on neutrino magnetic moment and charge radius

Confirmed destructive interference between neutral and charged currents

Abstract

Studies on electron antineutrino-electron elastic scattering were performed using a 200-kg CsI(Tl) scintillating crystal detector array at the Kuo-Sheng Nuclear Power Plant in Taiwan. The measured cross section of R(exp) = [1.00 +- 0.32(stat)]xR(SM) is consistent with the Standard Model expectation and the corresponding weak mixing angle derived is sin2T = 0.24 +- 0.05 (stat). The results are consistent with a destructive interference effect between neutral and charged-currents in this process. Limits on neutrino magnetic moment of mu(nu_(e)) < 2.0 x 10^(-10) mu_(B) at 90% confidence level and on electron antineutrino charge radius of r^(2) < (0.12 +- 2.07)x10^(-32) cm^2 were also derived.