Detection of the Free Antineutrino

Abstract

The antineutrino absorption reaction $p(\overline{\ensuremath{\nu}}, {\ensuremath{\beta}}^{+})n$ was observed in two 200-liter water targets each placed between large liquid scintillation detectors and located near a powerful production fission reactor in an antineutrino flux of 1.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{13}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$ ${\mathrm{sec}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. The signal, a delayed-coincidence event consisting of the annihilation of the positron followed by the capture of the neutron in cadmium which was dissolved in the water target, was subjected to a variety of tests. These tests demonstrated that reactor-associated events occured at the rate of 3.0 ${\mathrm{hr}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ for both targets taken together, consistent with expectations; the first pulse of the pair was due to a positron; the second to a neutron; the signal dependended on the presence of protons in the target; and the signal was not due to neutrons or gamma rays from the reactor.