# A novel segmented-scintillator antineutrino detector

## TL;DR

This paper introduces a new segmented solid scintillator detector design for reactor antineutrino detection, demonstrating promising efficiency, energy resolution, and background suppression through simulations and initial measurements.

## Contribution

It presents a novel composite scintillator detector concept with segmentation that enhances localization, efficiency, and background rejection for surface-level reactor antineutrino experiments.

## Key findings

- Neutron capture efficiency over 70% achievable.
- Energy resolution of 14%/√E(MeV) demonstrated.
- Antineutrino detection efficiency of 40% with background reduction.

## Abstract

The next generation of very-short-baseline reactor experiments will require compact detectors operating at surface level and close to a nuclear reactor. This paper presents a new detector concept based on a composite solid scintillator technology. The detector target uses cubes of polyvinyltoluene interleaved with $^6$LiF:ZnS(Ag) phosphor screens to detect the products of the inverse beta decay reaction. A multi-tonne detector system built from these individual cells can provide precise localisation of scintillation signals, making efficient use of the detector volume. Monte Carlo simulations indicate that a neutron capture efficiency of over 70% is achievable with a sufficient number of $^6$LiF:ZnS(Ag) screens per cube and that an appropriate segmentation enables a measurement of the positron energy which is not limited by gamma-ray leakage. First measurements of a single cell indicate that a very good neutron-gamma discrimination and high neutron detection efficiency can be obtained with adequate triggering techniques. The light yield from positron signals has been measured, showing that an energy resolution of 14%/$\sqrt{E({\mathrm{MeV}})}$ is achievable with high uniformity. A preliminary neutrino signal analysis has been developed, using selection criteria for pulse shape, energy, time structure and energy spatial distribution and showing that an antineutrino efficiency of 40% can be achieved. It also shows that the fine segmentation of the detector can be used to significantly decrease both correlated and accidental backgrounds.