| Popis: |
By performing global fits to inverse beta-decay (IBD) yield measurements from existing neutrino experiments based at highly U235-enriched reactor cores and conventional low-enriched cores, we explore current direct bounds on neutrino production by the subdominant fission isotope Pu241. For this nuclide, we determine an IBD yield of σ241=8.16±3.47 cm2/fission, a value (135±58)% that of current beta-conversion models. This constraint is shown to derive from the nonlinear relationship between the burn-in of Pu241 and Pu239 in conventional reactor fuel. By considering new hypothetical neutrino measurements at highly-enriched, low-enriched, mixed-oxide, and fast reactor facilities, we investigate the feasible limits of future knowledge of IBD yields for U235, U238, Pu239, Pu241, and Pu240. We find that the first direct measurement of the Pu240 IBD yield can be performed at plutonium-burning fast reactors, while a suite of correlated measurements at multiple reactor types can achieve precision in direct U238, Pu239, and Pu241 yield knowledge that meets or exceeds that of current theoretical predictions. |
