Limits on the Variation of $^{54}$Mn and $^{137}$Cs Nuclear Decay Parameters due to Nuclear Reactor on-off Cycling

ORAL

Abstract

An experiment has been conducted to search for possible variation of the nuclear decay lifetime parameters in the electron capture decay of $^{54}$Mn and the beta decay of $^{137}$Cs due to an influence of the reactor $\overline{\nu}$ flux at the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The samples were exposed to approximately equal, reactor-on periods of 28 days of anti-neutrino flux at $\sim3\times10^{12}\overline{\nu}\,cm^{-2}\,sec^{-1}$ and reactor-off periods. The variation limits are set by comparing the decay rate parameters as a function of the HFIR on and off periods. Equivalent cross section limits are set on variations assuming a linear relationship between the flux exposure and the induced nuclear decay parameter variation. Measuring the decay rate requires both the detector and environment be stable over the full-time period of the experiment. A High Purity Germanium spectrometer, sensitive to radiation from 3-keV to over 3-MeV, has been built to measure radioactive decay constants to a level of 10$^{-5}\sim10^{-6}$ at a location only 6 meters from the HFIR core. Such accuracy requires an understanding of the background, signal-processing algorithms, and both the double and triple event pile-up in the observed spectrum.

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Authors

  • David Koltick

    Purdue Univ

  • Michael Schmitt

    Old Dominion University, Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, KAIST , CAPP/IBS, CAPP/IBS, New Mexico State University, Goddard Space Flight Center, Caltech, Cornell University, Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics (CIERA) and Department of Physics and Astronomy Northwestern University, Dark Cosmology Centre, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute), University of Ottawa, Northwestern University, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Chinesse Academy of Sciences, Zentrum fur Astronomie und Astrophysik, TechSource Inc., Purdue Univ, KAIST, CAPP/IBS, CAPP, IBS, IBS/CAPP, KAIST, KAIST, IBS/CAPP, Cal Poly, Ohio State University, Kenyon College, Embry-Riddle (Prescott), Univ of California - Berkeley, Lawrence Berkeley Natl Lab, Univ of Toronto, Montana State University, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Heidelberger Institut für Theoretische Studien, Georgia Institute of Technology, Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, Universit\'a di Parma, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, University of Mount Union, Univ of Florida - Gainesville, DESY, Vinca Institute, University of Belgrade, Fermilab, Ohio State Univ - Columbus, Indiana Univ - Bloomington, FUZZYICS, Interactive Research Institute for Science and Education, Western Michigan University, West Virginia University, Morgantown, Marshall University, Huntington, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Instituto de Fisica, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Departamento de Ciencias da Natureza, Matematica e Educacao, Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos, UVA, University of Virginia, Brown University, Central Michigan University, U. S. Army Research Laboratory, U. S. Army Research Laboratory/ORAU, The Australian National University, Air Force Institute of Tech - WPAFB, IMPU, Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania State Univ, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, University of California, Berkeley, Princeton University, Michigan State University, North Carolina State University, University of Manitoba, University of Notre Dame, Argonne National Laboratory/University of Chicago, Argonne National Laboratory/University of Manitoba, McGill University, Ohio University, Technical University Dortmund, Czech Technical University, Lancaster University, University of Tennessee, Tennessee Technical University, Max-Planck Institute, Oak Ridge National Lab, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Univ of South Carolina, Stanford University, Univ of Wisconsin, Madison, Harvard, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Long Island University, Brigham Young University, Radboud University, University College Dublin, Louisiana State University, University of Chicago, University of California, Irvine, Soreq NRC, Yavne 81800, Israel, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, University of Chicago, Argonne National Laboratory, University of Kentucky, Retired, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory L-414, Livermore, CA 94551, USA, California State University, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, University of Texas at San Antonio, California Institute of Technology, Vanderbilt University and Fisk University, Instituto de Astronomy UNAM, CIERA and NorthWestern University, Hillsdale College, Spitzer Science Center, California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Oberlin College, West Virginia University, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, KU, MIT, LANL, Univ. of Chicago, Leiden University, Albert Einstein Institute, University of Amsterdam, Montana State Univ, CIERA-Northwestern University, MIT, Rochester Inst of Tech, Princeton University, Institute for Advanced Study, None, Department of Physics, Florida State University, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA, Department of Physics, Florida A\&M University, University of Florida, Gainesville, Washington Univ, Los Alamos Natl Lab, Shahid Beheshti University Tehran Iran, NIST, U. Waterloo, Tulane U., NCState, Institute for Quantum Computing, RIKEN, Nagoya Univ, Tulane Univ, North Carolina State Univ, The University of Manitoba, Jefferson Laboratory, Yerevan Physics Institute, North Carolina Central University, Massachusetts Inst of Tech-MIT, Tel Aviv University, International Institute of Physics - UFRN, University of Houston, Rutgers University, University of Sao Paulo, UC Berkeley, UMass Amherst, Indian Institute of Technology, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, Max Planck Institute, Hannover, INAF Padova, Univ of Pisa, Univ of Trento, Hampton University, University of South Carolina, Ohio Univ, Ohio University, CLAS Collaboration, Lamar University, University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley, Franklin and Marshall College, NASA/GSFC, NASA/GSFC & CRESST, University of Arkansas, University of Utah, Johns Hopkins University, Universidad de la Republica, Uruguay, Department of Physics, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO, 65409, University of Glasgow, GANIL, Dept. of Chemistry and Physics, Washington University, St. Louis MO 63130, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB), Michigan State University, East Lansing MI 48824, National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing MI 48824, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Washington University, U Minnesota, NASA/GSFC $\&$ CRESST, Washington University, St. Louis, University of Minnesota, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California Institute of Technology, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, Sapienza University Rome, Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, University of Mississippi, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Lisbon, Albert Einstein Institute Golm, Salisbury U., Ohio State U., Ohio U., Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universit\"at, National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, UW-Madison, Eureka Scientific, Cambridge University, Wayne State University, Indian Institute of Technology, Indore, Michigan State Univ, Binghamton Univ, Youngstown State Univ, Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Boyce Research Initiatives and Educational Foundation, Brilliant Sky Observatory, San Diego Mesa College, Indiana Univ, Columbia University, UCLA, Univ. of Kentucky, Air Force Research Lab., Argonne Nat'l Lab., Michigan State Univ., Michigan State University, USA, TRIUMF, Canada, Technische Universitat Munchen, Germany, Institut Laue-Langevin, France, Physikalisch-Technische Bundenstalt, Germany, Julich Centre for Neutron Science, Germany, University of Michigan, USA, Syracuse University, Syracuse, Center for Astrophysics and Planetary Science, Cornell University, Budapest Neutron Centre, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Osaka University, University of Groningen, University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, Tohoku University, Konan University, Ankara University, University of Michigan, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Univ of Washington, Aichi University of Education, eXtreme Gravity Institute - Montana State University, The Ohio State University, Universidade Federal Fluminese, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Frankfurt Institute of Advanced Studies, Duke University, Univ of Texas, Arlington, Magdalena Ridge Observatory, New Mexico Tech, Florida State Univ, Univ of Maryland-College Park, Univ of Cincinnati, Radboud University Nijmegen, University of Pisa, ICTS-TIFR, AEI, Hannover, University of Connecticut, Storrs, ANL, Louisiana State University - Baton Rouge, Brigham Young University - Idaho, Fermi National Accelerator Lab, University of Colorado Boulder, Northwestern Univ

  • Michael Schmitt

    Old Dominion University, Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, KAIST , CAPP/IBS, CAPP/IBS, New Mexico State University, Goddard Space Flight Center, Caltech, Cornell University, Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics (CIERA) and Department of Physics and Astronomy Northwestern University, Dark Cosmology Centre, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute), University of Ottawa, Northwestern University, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Chinesse Academy of Sciences, Zentrum fur Astronomie und Astrophysik, TechSource Inc., Purdue Univ, KAIST, CAPP/IBS, CAPP, IBS, IBS/CAPP, KAIST, KAIST, IBS/CAPP, Cal Poly, Ohio State University, Kenyon College, Embry-Riddle (Prescott), Univ of California - Berkeley, Lawrence Berkeley Natl Lab, Univ of Toronto, Montana State University, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Heidelberger Institut für Theoretische Studien, Georgia Institute of Technology, Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, Universit\'a di Parma, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, University of Mount Union, Univ of Florida - Gainesville, DESY, Vinca Institute, University of Belgrade, Fermilab, Ohio State Univ - Columbus, Indiana Univ - Bloomington, FUZZYICS, Interactive Research Institute for Science and Education, Western Michigan University, West Virginia University, Morgantown, Marshall University, Huntington, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Instituto de Fisica, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Departamento de Ciencias da Natureza, Matematica e Educacao, Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos, UVA, University of Virginia, Brown University, Central Michigan University, U. S. Army Research Laboratory, U. S. Army Research Laboratory/ORAU, The Australian National University, Air Force Institute of Tech - WPAFB, IMPU, Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania State Univ, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, University of California, Berkeley, Princeton University, Michigan State University, North Carolina State University, University of Manitoba, University of Notre Dame, Argonne National Laboratory/University of Chicago, Argonne National Laboratory/University of Manitoba, McGill University, Ohio University, Technical University Dortmund, Czech Technical University, Lancaster University, University of Tennessee, Tennessee Technical University, Max-Planck Institute, Oak Ridge National Lab, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Univ of South Carolina, Stanford University, Univ of Wisconsin, Madison, Harvard, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Long Island University, Brigham Young University, Radboud University, University College Dublin, Louisiana State University, University of Chicago, University of California, Irvine, Soreq NRC, Yavne 81800, Israel, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, University of Chicago, Argonne National Laboratory, University of Kentucky, Retired, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory L-414, Livermore, CA 94551, USA, California State University, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, University of Texas at San Antonio, California Institute of Technology, Vanderbilt University and Fisk University, Instituto de Astronomy UNAM, CIERA and NorthWestern University, Hillsdale College, Spitzer Science Center, California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Oberlin College, West Virginia University, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, KU, MIT, LANL, Univ. of Chicago, Leiden University, Albert Einstein Institute, University of Amsterdam, Montana State Univ, CIERA-Northwestern University, MIT, Rochester Inst of Tech, Princeton University, Institute for Advanced Study, None, Department of Physics, Florida State University, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA, Department of Physics, Florida A\&M University, University of Florida, Gainesville, Washington Univ, Los Alamos Natl Lab, Shahid Beheshti University Tehran Iran, NIST, U. Waterloo, Tulane U., NCState, Institute for Quantum Computing, RIKEN, Nagoya Univ, Tulane Univ, North Carolina State Univ, The University of Manitoba, Jefferson Laboratory, Yerevan Physics Institute, North Carolina Central University, Massachusetts Inst of Tech-MIT, Tel Aviv University, International Institute of Physics - UFRN, University of Houston, Rutgers University, University of Sao Paulo, UC Berkeley, UMass Amherst, Indian Institute of Technology, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, Max Planck Institute, Hannover, INAF Padova, Univ of Pisa, Univ of Trento, Hampton University, University of South Carolina, Ohio Univ, Ohio University, CLAS Collaboration, Lamar University, University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley, Franklin and Marshall College, NASA/GSFC, NASA/GSFC & CRESST, University of Arkansas, University of Utah, Johns Hopkins University, Universidad de la Republica, Uruguay, Department of Physics, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO, 65409, University of Glasgow, GANIL, Dept. of Chemistry and Physics, Washington University, St. Louis MO 63130, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB), Michigan State University, East Lansing MI 48824, National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing MI 48824, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Washington University, U Minnesota, NASA/GSFC $\&$ CRESST, Washington University, St. Louis, University of Minnesota, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California Institute of Technology, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, Sapienza University Rome, Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, University of Mississippi, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Lisbon, Albert Einstein Institute Golm, Salisbury U., Ohio State U., Ohio U., Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universit\"at, National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, UW-Madison, Eureka Scientific, Cambridge University, Wayne State University, Indian Institute of Technology, Indore, Michigan State Univ, Binghamton Univ, Youngstown State Univ, Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Boyce Research Initiatives and Educational Foundation, Brilliant Sky Observatory, San Diego Mesa College, Indiana Univ, Columbia University, UCLA, Univ. of Kentucky, Air Force Research Lab., Argonne Nat'l Lab., Michigan State Univ., Michigan State University, USA, TRIUMF, Canada, Technische Universitat Munchen, Germany, Institut Laue-Langevin, France, Physikalisch-Technische Bundenstalt, Germany, Julich Centre for Neutron Science, Germany, University of Michigan, USA, Syracuse University, Syracuse, Center for Astrophysics and Planetary Science, Cornell University, Budapest Neutron Centre, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Osaka University, University of Groningen, University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, Tohoku University, Konan University, Ankara University, University of Michigan, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Univ of Washington, Aichi University of Education, eXtreme Gravity Institute - Montana State University, The Ohio State University, Universidade Federal Fluminese, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Frankfurt Institute of Advanced Studies, Duke University, Univ of Texas, Arlington, Magdalena Ridge Observatory, New Mexico Tech, Florida State Univ, Univ of Maryland-College Park, Univ of Cincinnati, Radboud University Nijmegen, University of Pisa, ICTS-TIFR, AEI, Hannover, University of Connecticut, Storrs, ANL, Louisiana State University - Baton Rouge, Brigham Young University - Idaho, Fermi National Accelerator Lab, University of Colorado Boulder, Northwestern Univ

  • Michael Schmitt

    Old Dominion University, Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, KAIST , CAPP/IBS, CAPP/IBS, New Mexico State University, Goddard Space Flight Center, Caltech, Cornell University, Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics (CIERA) and Department of Physics and Astronomy Northwestern University, Dark Cosmology Centre, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute), University of Ottawa, Northwestern University, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Chinesse Academy of Sciences, Zentrum fur Astronomie und Astrophysik, TechSource Inc., Purdue Univ, KAIST, CAPP/IBS, CAPP, IBS, IBS/CAPP, KAIST, KAIST, IBS/CAPP, Cal Poly, Ohio State University, Kenyon College, Embry-Riddle (Prescott), Univ of California - Berkeley, Lawrence Berkeley Natl Lab, Univ of Toronto, Montana State University, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Heidelberger Institut für Theoretische Studien, Georgia Institute of Technology, Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, Universit\'a di Parma, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, University of Mount Union, Univ of Florida - Gainesville, DESY, Vinca Institute, University of Belgrade, Fermilab, Ohio State Univ - Columbus, Indiana Univ - Bloomington, FUZZYICS, Interactive Research Institute for Science and Education, Western Michigan University, West Virginia University, Morgantown, Marshall University, Huntington, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Instituto de Fisica, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Departamento de Ciencias da Natureza, Matematica e Educacao, Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos, UVA, University of Virginia, Brown University, Central Michigan University, U. S. Army Research Laboratory, U. S. Army Research Laboratory/ORAU, The Australian National University, Air Force Institute of Tech - WPAFB, IMPU, Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania State Univ, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, University of California, Berkeley, Princeton University, Michigan State University, North Carolina State University, University of Manitoba, University of Notre Dame, Argonne National Laboratory/University of Chicago, Argonne National Laboratory/University of Manitoba, McGill University, Ohio University, Technical University Dortmund, Czech Technical University, Lancaster University, University of Tennessee, Tennessee Technical University, Max-Planck Institute, Oak Ridge National Lab, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Univ of South Carolina, Stanford University, Univ of Wisconsin, Madison, Harvard, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Long Island University, Brigham Young University, Radboud University, University College Dublin, Louisiana State University, University of Chicago, University of California, Irvine, Soreq NRC, Yavne 81800, Israel, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, University of Chicago, Argonne National Laboratory, University of Kentucky, Retired, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory L-414, Livermore, CA 94551, USA, California State University, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, University of Texas at San Antonio, California Institute of Technology, Vanderbilt University and Fisk University, Instituto de Astronomy UNAM, CIERA and NorthWestern University, Hillsdale College, Spitzer Science Center, California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Oberlin College, West Virginia University, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, KU, MIT, LANL, Univ. of Chicago, Leiden University, Albert Einstein Institute, University of Amsterdam, Montana State Univ, CIERA-Northwestern University, MIT, Rochester Inst of Tech, Princeton University, Institute for Advanced Study, None, Department of Physics, Florida State University, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA, Department of Physics, Florida A\&M University, University of Florida, Gainesville, Washington Univ, Los Alamos Natl Lab, Shahid Beheshti University Tehran Iran, NIST, U. Waterloo, Tulane U., NCState, Institute for Quantum Computing, RIKEN, Nagoya Univ, Tulane Univ, North Carolina State Univ, The University of Manitoba, Jefferson Laboratory, Yerevan Physics Institute, North Carolina Central University, Massachusetts Inst of Tech-MIT, Tel Aviv University, International Institute of Physics - UFRN, University of Houston, Rutgers University, University of Sao Paulo, UC Berkeley, UMass Amherst, Indian Institute of Technology, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, Max Planck Institute, Hannover, INAF Padova, Univ of Pisa, Univ of Trento, Hampton University, University of South Carolina, Ohio Univ, Ohio University, CLAS Collaboration, Lamar University, University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley, Franklin and Marshall College, NASA/GSFC, NASA/GSFC & CRESST, University of Arkansas, University of Utah, Johns Hopkins University, Universidad de la Republica, Uruguay, Department of Physics, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO, 65409, University of Glasgow, GANIL, Dept. of Chemistry and Physics, Washington University, St. Louis MO 63130, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB), Michigan State University, East Lansing MI 48824, National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing MI 48824, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Washington University, U Minnesota, NASA/GSFC $\&$ CRESST, Washington University, St. Louis, University of Minnesota, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California Institute of Technology, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, Sapienza University Rome, Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, University of Mississippi, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Lisbon, Albert Einstein Institute Golm, Salisbury U., Ohio State U., Ohio U., Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universit\"at, National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, UW-Madison, Eureka Scientific, Cambridge University, Wayne State University, Indian Institute of Technology, Indore, Michigan State Univ, Binghamton Univ, Youngstown State Univ, Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Boyce Research Initiatives and Educational Foundation, Brilliant Sky Observatory, San Diego Mesa College, Indiana Univ, Columbia University, UCLA, Univ. of Kentucky, Air Force Research Lab., Argonne Nat'l Lab., Michigan State Univ., Michigan State University, USA, TRIUMF, Canada, Technische Universitat Munchen, Germany, Institut Laue-Langevin, France, Physikalisch-Technische Bundenstalt, Germany, Julich Centre for Neutron Science, Germany, University of Michigan, USA, Syracuse University, Syracuse, Center for Astrophysics and Planetary Science, Cornell University, Budapest Neutron Centre, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Osaka University, University of Groningen, University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, Tohoku University, Konan University, Ankara University, University of Michigan, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Univ of Washington, Aichi University of Education, eXtreme Gravity Institute - Montana State University, The Ohio State University, Universidade Federal Fluminese, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Frankfurt Institute of Advanced Studies, Duke University, Univ of Texas, Arlington, Magdalena Ridge Observatory, New Mexico Tech, Florida State Univ, Univ of Maryland-College Park, Univ of Cincinnati, Radboud University Nijmegen, University of Pisa, ICTS-TIFR, AEI, Hannover, University of Connecticut, Storrs, ANL, Louisiana State University - Baton Rouge, Brigham Young University - Idaho, Fermi National Accelerator Lab, University of Colorado Boulder, Northwestern Univ