The second joint workshop of the DANSS and νGeN collaborations was held
The DANSS and νGeN experiments are devoted to studying reactor antineutrino properties and are conducted at the Kalinin NPP. The DANSS collaboration uses a segmented detector based on a plastic scintillator for the search for reactor antineutrinos oscillating into sterile neutrinos and monitoring the reactor operation by antineutrinos. In the νGeN experiment the coherent elastic scattering of antineutrinos on nuclei is studied using a low-threshold germanium detector and the search for electromagnetic properties of antineutrinos (magnetic moment, millicharge) is conducted. Different methods for detecting antineutrinos create broad opportunities both for studying properties of these particles and searching for physics beyond the Standard Model.
For the DANSS Collaboration, the key focus areas were concluding the data analysis from the first phase of the experiment and preparing for the assembly of the upgraded DANSS-II detector. Participants discussed the detector's operational stability during Phase I, as well as the current estimation of physical backgrounds and systematic uncertainties in the sterile neutrino search analysis. Individual reports were dedicated to testing models of large extra spatial dimensions and outlining publication plans for the analysis of the complete Phase I dataset. In addition, simulation results for the new DANSS-II detector were presented. Participants discussed the preparation and testing of the future facility's core subsystems – including mechanics, electronics, the data acquisition (DAQ) system, and background suppression and monitoring tools – as well as the organization of preparatory and assembly work at the Kalinin Nuclear Power Plant.
Within the νGeN program, participants discussed the status of data acquisition and analysis, as well as the investigation and simulation of neutron, muon, and other backgrounds. Individual reports were dedicated to the search for new physics beyond the Standard Model, including the electromagnetic properties of antineutrinos, axions, and millicharged particles. Discussions also covered the upgrade of the experimental facility, the development of a new data acquisition system, and auxiliary measurements necessary to refine background models and improve the detector's performance.
Following the meeting, the participants agreed on the schedule of work at the Kalinin Nuclear Power Plant for the next six months, as well as the plans for experimental data analysis and the preparation of scientific publications.
M. Shirchenko
