Abstract
A measurement of the energy dependence of antineutrino disappearance at the Daya Bay reactor neutrino experiment is reported. Electron antineutrinos ((v) over bar (e)) from six 2.9 GW(th) reactors were detected with six detectors deployed in two near (effective baselines 512 and 561 m) and one far (1579 m) underground experimental halls.
Using 217 days of data, 41 589 (203 809 and 92 912) antineutrino candidates were detected in the far hall (near halls). An improved measurement of the oscillation amplitude sin(2) 2 theta(13) = 0.090(-0.009)(+0.008) and the first direct measurement of the (v) over bar (e) mass-squared difference vertical bar Delta m(ee)(2)vertical bar = (2.59(-0.20)(+0.19) x 10(-3) eV(2)) is obtained using the observed (v) over bar (e) rates and energy spectra in a three-neutrino framework.
This value of vertical bar Delta m(ee)(2)vertical bar eejis consistent with vertical bar Delta m(mu mu)(2)vertical bar measured by muon neutrino disappearance, supporting the three-flavor oscillation model.