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arXiv · 1805.00410

Optimizing the $^{8}$Li yield for the IsoDAR Neutrino Experiment

Adriana Bungau·Jose Alonso·Larry Bartoszek·Janet Conrad·Michael Shaevitz·Joshua Spitz
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Abstract

The focus of this paper is on optimizing the electron-antineutrino source for the IsoDAR (Isotope Decay at Rest) experimental program. IsoDAR will perform sensitive short-baseline neutrino oscillation and electroweak measurements, among other Beyond Standard Model searches, in combination with KamLAND and/or other suitable detectors. IsoDAR will rely on the high-$Q$ $\beta^-$ decay of the $^{8}$Li isotope for producing electron-antineutrinos, created mainly via neutron capture in an isotopically enriched $^{7}$Li sleeve surrounding the Be target. In particular, this paper examines the performance, defined in terms of absolute $^{8}$Li (or, equivalently, electron-antineutrino) production rate, of various candidate sleeve materials, including a lithium-fluoride, beryllium-fluoride mixture ("FLiBe") sleeve and a homogeneous mixture of lithium and beryllium ("Li-Be"). These studies show that the $^{8}$Li yield can be increased substantially by employing a Li-Be sleeve and therefore motivate significant changes to the nominal IsoDAR design.

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Adriana Bungau, Jose Alonso, Larry Bartoszek, Janet Conrad, Michael Shaevitz, Joshua Spitz. 2018-05-01. Optimizing the $^{8}$Li yield for the IsoDAR Neutrino Experiment. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-0221%2F14%2F03%2Fp03001

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