U. Schwan | Searcharxiv

arXiv2012

Large scale Gd-beta-diketonate based organic liquid scintillator production for antineutrino detection

Over the course of several decades, organic liquid scintillators have formed the basis for successful neutrino detectors. Gadolinium-loaded liquid scintillators provide efficient background suppression for electron antineutrino detection at nuclear reactor plants. In the Double Chooz reactor antineutrino experiment, a newly developed beta-diketonate gadolinium-loaded scintillator is utilized for the first time. Its large scale production and characterization are described. A new, light yield matched metal-free companion scintillator is presented. Both organic liquids comprise the target and "Gamma Catcher" of the Double Chooz detectors.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2004

Letter of Intent for Double-CHOOZ: a Search for the Mixing Angle Theta13

Tremendous progress has been achieved in neutrino oscillation physics during the last few years. However, the smallness of the $\t13$ neutrino mixing angle still remains enigmatic. The current best constraint comes from the CHOOZ reactor neutrino experiment $\s2t13 < 0.2$ (at 90% C.L., for $\adm2=2.0 10^{-3} \text{eV}^2$). We propose a new experiment on the same site, Double-CHOOZ, to explore the range of $\s2t13$ from 0.2 to 0.03, within three years of data taking. The improvement of the CHOOZ result requires an increase in the statistics, a reduction of the systematic error below one percent, and a careful control of the cosmic ray induced background. Therefore, Double-CHOOZ will use two identical detectors, one at $\sim$150 m and another at 1.05 km distance from the nuclear cores. The plan is to start data taking with two detectors in 2008, and to reach a sensitivity of 0.05 in 2009, and 0.03 in 2011.

hep-ex↗