Sensitivity and Discovery Potential of the PROSPECT Experiment

TL;DR

PROSPECT aims to precisely measure reactor antineutrino spectra and search for sterile neutrinos, addressing anomalies in flux and spectral shape with a specialized detector at HFIR.

Contribution

This paper introduces the PROSPECT experiment's design, goals, and its potential to improve understanding of reactor antineutrino spectra and sterile neutrino searches.

Findings

Projected sensitivity to sterile neutrinos at eV scale

Expected precision in measuring U-235 antineutrino spectrum

Potential to resolve reactor antineutrino flux anomalies

Abstract

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 an eV-scale sterile neutrino. 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 3-ton lithium-doped liquid scintillator detector is ideally suited to perform a search for sterile neutrinos. This talk will focus on the sensitivity and discovery potential of PROSPECT and the detector design to achieve these goals.