On the origin of the reactor antineutrino anomalies in light of a new summation model with parameterized $\beta^{-}$ transitions

TL;DR

This paper explores the reactor antineutrino anomalies by using a new summation model with parameterized beta-minus transitions, suggesting that biases in reference electron spectra may explain the discrepancies.

Contribution

It introduces a phenomenological Gamow-Teller beta-decay strength model within a summation framework to analyze reactor antineutrino anomalies.

Findings

Reproduces trends of discrepancies in antineutrino norm and shape.

Predicts similar distortions in electron spectra.

Suggests biases in reference electron spectra could cause anomalies.

Abstract

We investigate the possible origins of the norm and shape reactor antineutrino anomalies in the framework of a summation model (SM) where $\beta^{-}$ transitions are simulated by a phenomenological Gamow-Teller $\beta$-decay strength model. The general trends of the discrepancies to the Huber-Mueller model on the antineutrino side can be reproduced both in norm and shape. From the exact electron-antineutrino correspondence of the SM model, we predict similar distortions in the electron spectra, suggesting that biases on the reference fission-electron spectra could be at the origin of the anomalies.