Changes in the Gamma Spectra of Radioactive Materials Affected by Altering Neutrino Flux

EasyChair Preprint 8767

Abstract

Neutrinos are particles with miniscule mass, and scholars consider their detection very challenging on account of their transparency. However, in previous studies we demonstrated that changes in neutrino flux affect the gamma count rates of various radioactive nuclei. Alterations in the emitted gamma energy spectra were measured following an increase in the neutrino flux. The manner in which the spectrum is affected may hint at the mechanism via which the neutrino interacts with the radio-nucleus. The spectra for Thorium, Ba-133, Mn-54, and Cs-137 were measured using an NaI(Tl) spectrometer. Two cyclotrons with 18 MeV proton beams were operated simultaneously, thus increasing the neutrino flux. The study found that the intensity of the spectra dropped in all four specimens following an increase in neutrino flux. The photofraction ratio remained unchanged in the decreased events. The photopeak analysis for mono-energetic gamma radiation nuclides revealed anomalies. This implies that the neutrino interacts with radio-nuclei by altering the gamma transition multipolarity, suggesting that neutrinos might interact with the nucleus in ways not considered by the present theory of nuclear physics.

Keyphrases: NaI(Tl), Radio-nuclei, gamma, neutrino

@booklet{EasyChair:8767,
  author    = {Itzhak Orion},
  title     = {Changes in the Gamma Spectra of Radioactive Materials Affected by Altering Neutrino Flux},
  howpublished = {EasyChair Preprint 8767},
  year      = {EasyChair, 2022}}