Physics with Reactor Neutrinos

TL;DR

Reactor neutrinos have been pivotal in confirming neutrino existence, studying oscillations, and exploring new physics, with ongoing experiments aiming to resolve fundamental questions like mass hierarchy and sterile neutrinos.

Contribution

This paper reviews recent advances in reactor neutrino physics and discusses future experimental opportunities for discovering new physics beyond the standard model.

Findings

Confirmed neutrino existence using reactor neutrinos

Provided evidence for neutrino oscillations

Outlined future experiments targeting neutrino mass hierarchy and sterile neutrinos

Abstract

Neutrinos produced by nuclear reactors have played a major role in advancing our knowledge of the properties of neutrinos. The first direct detection of the neutrino, confirming its existence, was performed using reactor neutrinos. More recent experiments utilizing reactor neutrinos have also found clear evidence for neutrino oscillation, providing unique input for the determination of neutrino mass and mixing. Ongoing and future reactor neutrino experiments will explore other important issues, including the neutrino mass hierarchy and the search for sterile neutrinos and other new physics beyond the standard model. In this article, we review the recent progress in physics using reactor neutrinos and the opportunities they offer for future discoveries.