Inspection of the detection cross section dependence of the Gallium Anomaly

TL;DR

This paper examines how the Gallium Anomaly depends on detection cross sections and the half-life of ${}^{71}\text{Ge}$, finding that the anomaly's significance remains high but can be mitigated by a larger half-life, emphasizing the need for updated measurements.

Contribution

It provides updated analysis of the Gallium Anomaly's dependence on detection cross sections and the ${}^{71}\text{Ge}$ half-life, highlighting potential resolutions and the need for new measurements.

Findings

Gallium Anomaly significance exceeds 5σ across models.

A larger ${}^{71}\text{Ge}$ half-life can reduce or resolve the anomaly.

Updated measurements could clarify the anomaly's origin.

Abstract

We discuss in detail the dependence of the Gallium Anomaly on the detection cross section. We provide updated values of the size of the Gallium Anomaly and find that its significance is larger than about $5\sigma$ for all the detection cross section models. We discuss the dependence of the Gallium Anomaly on the assumed value of the half life of ${}^{71}\text{Ge}$, which determines the cross sections of the transitions from the ground state of ${}^{71}\text{Ga}$ to the ground state of ${}^{71}\text{Ge}$. We show that a value of the ${}^{71}\text{Ge}$ half life which is larger than the standard one can reduce or even solve the Gallium Anomaly. Considering the short-baseline neutrino oscillation interpretation of the Gallium Anomaly, we show that a value of the ${}^{71}\text{Ge}$ half life which is larger than the standard one can reduce the tension with the results of other experiments. Since the standard value of the ${}^{71}\text{Ge}$ half life was measured in 1985, we advocate the importance of new measurements with modern technique and apparatus for a better assessment of the Gallium Anomaly.