Joint Measurement of the $^{235}$U Antineutrino Spectrum by Prospect and Stereo

Abstract

The PROSPECT and STEREO collaborations present a combined measurement of the pure $^{235}$U antineutrino spectrum, without site specific corrections or detector-dependent effects. The spectral measurements of the two highest precision experiments at research reactors are found to be compatible with $\chi^2/\mathrm{ndf} = 24.1/21$, allowing a joint unfolding of the prompt energy measurements into antineutrino energy. This $\bar{\nu}_e$ energy spectrum is provided to the community, and an excess of events relative to the Huber model is found in the 5-6 MeV region. When a Gaussian bump is fitted to the excess, the data-model $\chi^2$ value is improved, corresponding to a $2.4\sigma$ significance.