Results from ON-OFF analysis of the Neutrinos-Angra detector

TL;DR

This paper reports on the ON-OFF analysis of the Neutrinos Angra detector, demonstrating its potential to monitor nuclear reactor activity through antineutrino detection despite surface operation challenges.

Contribution

It introduces a water-based Cherenkov detector with gadolinium doping and detailed analysis methods for reactor monitoring applications.

Findings

Reliable detection of reactor antineutrinos demonstrated

Effective signal processing and event selection methods developed

Potential for nonproliferation monitoring confirmed

Abstract

The Neutrinos Angra Experiment, a water-based Cherenkov detector, is located at the Angra dos Reis nuclear power plant in Brazil. Designed to detect electron antineutrinos produced in the nuclear reactor, the primary objective of the experiment is to demonstrate the feasibility of monitoring reactor activity using an antineutrino detector. This effort aligns with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) program to identify potential and novel technologies applicable to nonproliferation safeguards. Operating on the surface presents challenges such as high noise rates, necessitating the development of very sensitive, yet small-scale detectors. These conditions make the Angra experiment an excellent platform for both developing the application and gaining expertise in new technologies and analysis methods. The detector employs a water-based target doped with gadolinium to enhance its sensitivity to antineutrinos. In this work, we describe the main features of the detector and the electronics chain, including front-end and data acquisition components. We detail the data acquisition strategies and the methodologies applied for signal processing and event selection. Preliminary physics results suggest that the detector can reliably monitor reactor operations by detecting the inverse beta decay induced by electron antineutrinos from the reactor.