Published 2022 | Version v1
Journal article

Geo- and reactor antineutrino sensitivity at THEIA

  • 1. University of Tokyo Kavli Institute of Physics and Mathematics of the Universe, 277-8583, 5 Chome-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba (Japan)
  • 2. King's College of London, Strand, London WC2R 2LS (United Kingdom)
  • 3. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, 94720-8153, Berkeley, CA (United States)
  • 4. Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, 94720, Berkeley, CA (United States)
  • 5. University of Hawai'i at Manoa, 96822, Honolulu, HI (United States)

Description

We present the sensitivity of the Theia experiment to low-energy geo- and reactor antineutrinos. For this study, we consider one of the possible proposed designs, a 17.8-ktonne fiducial volume Theia-25 detector filled with water-based liquid scintillator placed at Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF). We demonstrate Theia's sensitivity to measure the geo- and reactor antineutrinos via inverse-beta decay interactions after one year of data taking with 11.9 × 1032 free target protons. Considering all uncertainties on input throughout the whole analysis chain, the expected number of geo- and reactor antineutrinos is 22024+30 (stats+syst) and 16824+26 (stat+sys), respectively, after one year of data taking. The corresponding expected fit precision of a sole experiment is evaluated at 8.7% and 10.1%, respectively. We also demonstrate the sensitivity towards fitting individual Th and U contributions, with best fit values of NTh = 4022+26 (stat+sys) and NU = 18024+30 (stat+sys). Finally, from the fit results of individual Th and U contributions, we evaluate the mantle signal to be Smantle = 9.3 ± [5.2, 5.4] NIU (stat+sys). This was obtained assuming a full-range positive correlation (ρc [0, 1]) between Th and U, and the projected uncertainties on the crust contributions of 8.3% (Th) and 7.0% (U).

Availability note (English)

Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-022-11106-1

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
European Physical Journal. C, Particles and Fields (Online)
Journal Volume
82
Journal Issue
12
Journal Page Range
vp.
ISSN
1434-6052
CODEN
EPCFFB

Optional Information

Notes
AID: 1151