Andrew Conant
A5007527474- Neutrino Physics Research
- Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies
- Nuclear reactor physics and engineering
- Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena
- Nuclear Physics and Applications
- Nuclear Materials and Properties
- Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena
- Graphite, nuclear technology, radiation studies
- Radioactive contamination and transfer
- Radiation Detection and Scintillator Technologies
- Nuclear and radioactivity studies
- Rocket and propulsion systems research
- Magnetic confinement fusion research
- Nuclear physics research studies
- Particle Detector Development and Performance
- Risk Perception and Management
- Radioactive element chemistry and processing
- Heat transfer and supercritical fluids
- Atmospheric and Environmental Gas Dynamics
- Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs) and Hardware Security
- Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics
- High Temperature Alloys and Creep
- Combustion and Detonation Processes
- Atomic and Subatomic Physics Research
- Meteorological Phenomena and Simulations
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
2020-2025
Georgia Institute of Technology
2016-2021
The PROSPECT Collaboration presents their improved results with new limits on the oscillation of electron antineutrinos to light sterile neutrinos and energy spectrum measurements several short baselines.
This Letter reports the first scientific results from observation of antineutrinos emitted by fission products $^{235}\mathrm{U}$ at High Flux Isotope Reactor. PROSPECT, Precision Reactor Oscillation and Spectrum Experiment, consists a segmented 4 ton $^{6}\mathrm{Li}$-doped liquid scintillator detector covering baseline range 7--9 m reactor operating under less than 1 water equivalent overburden. Data collected during 33 live days operation nominal power 85 MW yield detection $25\text{...
The Precision Reactor Oscillation and Spectrum Experiment, PROSPECT, is designed to make a precise measurement of the antineutrino spectrum from highly-enriched uranium reactor probe eV-scale sterile neutrinos by searching for neutrino oscillations over meter-long distances. PROSPECT conceived as 2-phase experiment utilizing segmented $^6$Li-doped liquid scintillator detectors both efficient detection antineutrinos through inverse beta decay reaction excellent background discrimination....
If dark matter has mass lower than around 1 GeV, it will not impart enough energy to cause detectable nuclear recoils in many direct-detection experiments. However, if is upscattered high by collisions with cosmic rays, may be both experiments and neutrino We report the results of a dedicated search for boosted rays using PROSPECT reactor antineutrino experiment. show that such flux would display characteristic diurnal sidereal modulation, use this set new experimental constraints on sub-GeV...
This Letter reports the first measurement of $^{235}$U $\overline{\nu_{e}}$ energy spectrum by PROSPECT, Precision Reactor Oscillation and Spectrum experiment, operating 7.9m from 85MW$_{\mathrm{th}}$ highly-enriched uranium (HEU) High Flux Isotope Reactor. With a surface-based, segmented detector, PROSPECT has observed 31678$\pm$304 (stat.) $\overline{\nu_{e}}$-induced inverse beta decays (IBD), largest sample HEU fission to date, 99% which are attributed $^{235}$U. Despite broad agreement,...
This Letter reports one of the most precise measurements to date antineutrino spectrum from a purely 235U-fueled reactor, made with final dataset PROSPECT-I detector at High Flux Isotope Reactor. By extracting information previously unused segments, this analysis effectively doubles statistics previous PROSPECT measurement. The reconstructed energy is unfolded into and compared both Huber-Mueller model commercial reactor burning multiple fuel isotopes. A local excess over observed in 5–7 MeV...
Abstract Fission product Sr, Mo, and Ru isotopes in six 10-μm particles of spent fuel from a pressurized water reactor were analyzed by resonance ionization mass spectrometry (RIMS) evaluated for utility nuclear material characterization. Previous measurements on these same samples showed widely varying U, Pu, Am isotopic compositions owing to the samples’ differing irradiation environments within reactor. This is also seen Mo isotopes, which have added complication exsolution UO 2 matrix....
A joint determination of the reactor antineutrino spectra resulting from fission ^{235}U and ^{239}Pu has been carried out by Daya Bay PROSPECT Collaborations. This Letter reports level consistency spectrum measurements two experiments presents new results a analysis both data sets. The are found to be consistent. combined reduces degeneracy between dominant isotopes improves uncertainty spectral shape about 3%. energy unfolded jointly deconvolved using Wiener-SVD unfolding method, providing...
The PROSPECT and STEREO collaborations present a combined measurement of the pure ^{235}U antineutrino spectrum, without site specific corrections or detector-dependent effects. spectral measurements two highest precision experiments at research reactors are found to be compatible with χ^{2}/ndf=24.1/21, allowing joint unfolding prompt energy into energy. This ν[over ¯]_{e} spectrum is provided community, an excess events relative Huber model in 5-6 MeV region. When Gaussian bump fitted...
The PROSPECT experiment is designed to perform precise searches for antineutrino disappearance at short distances (7–9 m) from compact nuclear reactor cores. This Letter reports results a new neutrino oscillation analysis performed using the complete data sample PROSPECT-I detector operated High Flux Isotope Reactor in 2018. uses multiperiod selection of inverse beta decay interactions with reduced backgrounds and enhanced statistical power set limits on electron caused by mixing sterile...
This paper describes the design and performance of a 50 liter, two-segment $^{6}$Li-loaded liquid scintillator detector that was designed operated as prototype for PROSPECT (Precision Reactor Oscillation Spectrum) Experiment. The constructed according to specifications experiment. It features low-mass optical separators, an integrated source calibration system, materials are compatible with $^{6}$Li-doped developed by PROSPECT. We demonstrate high light collection 850$\pm$20 PE/MeV, energy...
The nuclear security community has long been interested in the identification and quantification of material signatures to understand a material’s provenance, use, ultimate application. New forensics methods intended for non-traditional or advanced fuel applications require irradiation experiments demonstrate viability validity. Integral irradiations have historically required significant costs timelines design, irradiate, characterize. This paper describes how recently developed testbed can...
This work reports the production and characterization of lithium-loaded liquid scintillator (LiLS) for Precision Reactor Oscillation Spectrum Experiment (PROSPECT) . Fifty-nine 90 liter batches LiLS (6Li mass fraction 0.082%±0.001%) were produced samples from all characterized by measuring their optical absorbance relative to air, light yield a pure reference, pulse shape discrimination capability. Fifty-seven passed quality assurance criteria used PROSPECT experiment.
Abstract The precision reactor oscillation and spectrum experiment, PROSPECT, has made world-leading measurements of antineutrinos at short baselines. In its first phase, conducted the high flux isotope (HFIR) Oak Ridge National Laboratory, PROSPECT produced some strongest limits on eV-scale sterile neutrinos, a measurement antineutrino from 235 U, demonstrated observation in an aboveground detector with good energy resolution well-controlled backgrounds. collaboration is now preparing...
Recent measurements of reactor-produced antineutrino fluxes and energy spectra are inconsistent with models based on measured thermal fission beta spectra. In this paper, we examine the dependence production neutron energy. particular, variation product yields has been considered as a possible source discrepancies between observations models. simulations low-enriched highly-enriched reactor core designs, find substantial fraction fissions (from 5% to more than 40%) caused by non-thermal...
PROSPECT, the Precision Reactor Oscillation and SPECTrum experiment, is a short-baseline reactor antineutrino experiment designed to provide precision measurements of 235U product e spectrum, utilizing an optically segmented 4-ton liquid scintillator detector. PROSPECT's segmentation system, optical grid, plays central role in reconstructing position energy interactions This paper technical reference for this PROSPECT subsystem, describing its design, fabrication, quality assurance,...
Abstract Nuclear reactors are uniquely powerful, abundant, and flavor-pure sources of antineutrinos that have played a central role in the discovery neutrinos elucidation their properties. This continues through broad range experiments investigating topics including Standard Model short-baseline oscillations, beyond-the-Standard-Model physics searches, reactor flux spectrum modelling. Report will survey state antineutrino field summarize ways which current future can play critical advancing...
Abstract. We describe the use of radionuclide 85Kr, which is produced by nuclear fission and has a half-life 10.74 years, to determine age spent fuel.
Reactor neutrino experiments have seen major improvements in precision recent years. With the experimental uncertainties becoming lower than those from theory, carefully considering all sources of $\overline{\nu}_{e}$ is important when making theoretical predictions. One source that often neglected arises irradiation nonfuel materials reactors. The rates and energies these vary widely based on reactor type, configuration, sampling stage during cycle to be considered for each experiment...