Full description
Neutrinos are fascinating particles. Despite many years of research, some of their properties still elude us. The latest measurements and theoretical studies carried out by our team using antineutrinos produced by nuclear reactors [1,2] have revealed the existence of anomalies. While anomalies have led to discoveries in the past—for example, they helped prove that neutrinos are massive particles—these anomalies cannot currently be explained by the existence of new physics [1]. Current avenues for explaining these anomalies point to the existence of biases in the beta spectra produced during fission. These spectra were measured in the 1980s and are currently used as references for all reactor antineutrino experiments.
We plan to remeasure the beta spectra associated with the fission of 235U and 239Pu. To do this, we must define and set up a complex and innovative high-resolution experiment that is accurate to within one per cent and absolute (normalised to the number of fissions).
The internship work is part of ongoing studies to define the spectrometer. Two aspects will be developed: defining the calibration system and validating the experiment. The spectrometer should be calibrated using a low-energy electron beam produced by laser at the ELSA facility at CEA/DAM. This will involve using simulation to study the device to be set up to calibrate the detector as accurately as possible. Validation of the experiment will consist of simulating the entire experiment in order to assess its potential and feasibility.
The simulations will be carried out using the Geant4 code and validation measurements may be considered in the laboratory.
Location
Saclay
Internship conditions
- Internship duration: 4 months
- Level of study: Bac+4/5
- Training: Ingenieur/Master
- Continuation in PhD thesis: No
- Application deadline: 1 mars 2026
Experimental skills
Language : English
Computer languages and software:
Programmation C++
Geant4, ROOT
Links
Supervisor
LETOURNEAU Alain
Phone: +33 1 69 08 76 01
Email :
Head of the laboratory DPhN / LEARN
Phone: