Low Energy Antineutrino Detection Using Neutrino Capture on EC Decaying Nuclei

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential of detecting low energy electron antineutrinos via neutrino capture on electron capture decaying nuclei, highlighting conditions for future practical detection of the Cosmological Neutrino Background.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach using electron capture decaying nuclei for low energy antineutrino detection and analyzes the conditions needed for feasibility.

Findings

Crossed reactions have sizeable cross sections.

Detection feasibility depends on Q-value conditions.

Future improvements could enable Cosmological Neutrino Background detection.

Abstract

In this paper we present a study of the interaction of low energy electron antineutrino on nuclei that undergo electron capture. We show that the two corresponding crossed reactions have a sizeable cross section and are both suitable for detection of low energy antineutrino. However, only in case very specific conditions on the Q-value of the decay are met or significant improvements on the performances of ion storage rings are achieved, these reactions could be exploited in the future to address the long standing problem of a direct detection of Cosmological Neutrino Background.