Antineutrino spectrum of fission prducts. Chapter 3

The knowledge of reactor antineutrino spectra is necessary for the interpretation of weak-interaction experiments located at nuclear reactors. The antineutrino and electron spectra accompanying thermal neutron fission of 235U 239Pu for various irradiation times are calculated. It is stressed that the higher-energy part (E>=4MeV) of the spectra depends sensitively on the β-decay characteristics of fission products with experimentally unknown decay schemes. The accuracy of a semi-empirical conversion of the electron spectrum into the antineutrino spectrum is discussed. The resulting upsilon sub(e) spectra are used to calculate cross sections and reaction rates for the inverse neutron β-decay, weak charged and neutral current induced deuteron disintegration, and the antineutrino electron scattering. (author)