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Title: The Nucifer Experiment

Journal Article · · Nuclear Data Sheets

In nuclear reactors, a large number of antineutrinos are generated in the decay chains of the fission products; thus a survey of the antineutrino flux could provide valuable information related to the uranium and plutonium content of the core. This application generated interest by the IAEA in using antineutrino detectors as a potential safeguard tool. Here we present the Nucifer experiment, developed in France, by CEA and CNRS/IN2P3. The design of this new antineutrino detector has focused on safety, size reduction, reliability and high detection efficiency with a good background rejection. The Nucifer detector is currently taking data at the OSIRIS research reactor, inside CEA-Saclay. Presently, the ongoing analyses are considering the main sources of background for the antineutrino detection; the first antineutrino result is expected in 2013. A possible contribution to the understanding of the so called “reactor antineutrino anomaly” is also discussed. Finally, we present a brief description of the proposed experiments at very short baselines (VSBL) from reactors in France.

OSTI ID:
22436710
Journal Information:
Nuclear Data Sheets, Vol. 120; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2014 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0090-3752
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English