Theory of inverse beta decay for reactor antineutrinos
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arXiv
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| Format: | Preprint |
| Published: |
2025
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| _version_ | 1866911309231030272 |
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| author | Tomalak, Oleksandr |
| author_facet | Tomalak, Oleksandr |
| contents | Inverse beta decay (IBD), $\overlineν_e p \to e^+ n \left( γ\right)$, is the main detection channel for reactor antineutrinos in water- and hydrocarbon-based detectors. As reactor antineutrino experiments now target sub-percent-level sensitivity to oscillation parameters, a precise theoretical description of IBD, including recoil, weak magnetism, nucleon structure, and radiative corrections, becomes essential. In this work, we give a detailed and precise calculation of the total and differential cross sections for radiative IBD, $\overlineν_e p \to e^+ n γ$. We use a heavy baryon chiral perturbation theory framework, systematically incorporating electroweak, electromagnetic, and strong-interaction corrections. We derive new analytic cross-section expressions, clarify the collinear structure of radiative corrections, and provide a systematic uncertainty analysis. We also discuss phenomenological applications for reactor antineutrino experiments, e.g., JUNO, and neutron decay. Our results enable sub-permille theoretical precision, supporting current and future experiments. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2512_07956 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Theory of inverse beta decay for reactor antineutrinos Tomalak, Oleksandr High Energy Physics - Phenomenology High Energy Physics - Experiment Nuclear Experiment Nuclear Theory Inverse beta decay (IBD), $\overlineν_e p \to e^+ n \left( γ\right)$, is the main detection channel for reactor antineutrinos in water- and hydrocarbon-based detectors. As reactor antineutrino experiments now target sub-percent-level sensitivity to oscillation parameters, a precise theoretical description of IBD, including recoil, weak magnetism, nucleon structure, and radiative corrections, becomes essential. In this work, we give a detailed and precise calculation of the total and differential cross sections for radiative IBD, $\overlineν_e p \to e^+ n γ$. We use a heavy baryon chiral perturbation theory framework, systematically incorporating electroweak, electromagnetic, and strong-interaction corrections. We derive new analytic cross-section expressions, clarify the collinear structure of radiative corrections, and provide a systematic uncertainty analysis. We also discuss phenomenological applications for reactor antineutrino experiments, e.g., JUNO, and neutron decay. Our results enable sub-permille theoretical precision, supporting current and future experiments. |
| title | Theory of inverse beta decay for reactor antineutrinos |
| topic | High Energy Physics - Phenomenology High Energy Physics - Experiment Nuclear Experiment Nuclear Theory |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.07956 |