Spectral shape analysis for electron antineutrino oscillation study by using $^{8}$Li generator with $^{252}$Cf source

TL;DR

This paper proposes a novel, portable electron antineutrino source using a $^{8}$Li generator with a $^{252}$Cf source for short baseline sterile neutrino oscillation experiments, enabling measurements without large accelerator or reactor facilities.

Contribution

It introduces a feasible, non-accelerator method for sterile neutrino search using a $^{8}$Li generator with a $^{252}$Cf source, allowing placement near existing detectors.

Findings

Estimated neutrino flux and event rates for the proposed source.

Demonstrated spectral shape analysis to identify sterile neutrino effects.

Showed potential for reaction rate changes indicating sterile neutrino presence.

Abstract

Existence of hypothetical fourth neutrino, so-called sterile neutrino, is one of open issues in the particle and neutrino physics. This fourth neutrino is a candidate for explaining some anomalies reported in LSND, MiniBoone, reactor experiments, and gallium experiments. To search for the existence of the sterile neutrino, we report detailed analysis of a feasible experiment for short baseline electron antineutrino (${\bar{\nu}}_{e}$) disappearance study, in which a ${\bar{\nu}}_{e}$ source from $^{8}$Li generator is considered under non-accelerator system. For $^{8}$Li production, we suggest to use $^{252}$Cf source as an intense neutron emitter, by which one can produce $^{8}$Li isotope through $^{7}$Li(n,$\gamma$)$^{8}$Li reaction, effectively. Using the $^{8}$Li generator, one does not need any accelerator or reactor facilities because the generator can be placed on any present and/or planned neutrino detectors as closely as possible. For the effect of the possible sterile neutrinos, we estimate expected neutrino flux and event rates from the neutrino source scheme, and show neutrino disappearance features and possible reaction rate changes by the sterile neutrino using the spectral shape analysis.