https://doi.org/10.1140/epja/s10050-023-00977-x
Special Article - New Tools and Techniques
Improved FIFRELIN de-excitation model for neutrino applications
1
Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, 69117, Heidelberg, Germany
2
University of Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, LPSC-IN2P3, 38000, Grenoble, France
3
IRFU, CEA, Université Paris-Saclay, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
4
CEA, DES, IRESNE, DER, Cadarache, 13108, Saint-Paul-Lez-Durance, France
5
University of Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRS, LAPP-IN2P3, 74000, Annecy, France
6
Institut Laue-Langevin, CS 20156, 38042, Grenoble Cedex 9, France
7
Donostia International Physics Center, Paseo Manuel Lardizabal, 4, 20018, Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
8
Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS/IN2P3, Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet, 91128, Palaiseau, France
9
LPNHE, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, CNRS/IN2P3, 75005, Paris, France
10
Faculty of Sciences, Hassan II University, Aïn Chock, BP 5366 Maarif, 20100, Casablanca, Morocco
11
Institut de Physique Nucléaire de Lyon, CNRS/IN2P3, Univ. Lyon, Université Lyon 1, 69622, Villeurbanne, France
12
Department of Physics, University of California, 94720-7300, Berkeley, CA, USA
13
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 94720-8153, Berkeley, CA, USA
14
Univ. Lyon, Univ. Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS/IN2P3, IP2I Lyon, 69622, Villeurbanne, France
Received:
23
September
2022
Accepted:
10
March
2023
Published online:
12
April
2023
The precise modeling of the de-excitation of Gd isotopes is of great interest for experimental studies of neutrinos using Gd-loaded organic liquid scintillators. The FIFRELIN code was recently used within the purposes of the STEREO experiment for the modeling of the Gd de-excitation after neutron capture in order to achieve a good control of the detection efficiency. In this work, we report on the recent additions in the FIFRELIN de-excitation model with the purpose of enhancing further the de-excitation description. Experimental transition intensities from the EGAF database are now included in the FIFRELIN cascades, in order to improve the description of the higher energy part of the spectrum. Furthermore, the angular correlations between 
rays are now implemented in FIFRELIN, to account for the relative anisotropies between them. In addition, conversion electrons are now treated more precisely in the whole spectrum range, while the subsequent emission of X rays is also accounted for. The impact of the aforementioned improvements in FIFRELIN is tested by simulating neutron captures in various positions inside the STEREO detector. A repository of up-to-date FIFRELIN simulations of the Gd isotopes is made available for the community, with the possibility of expanding for other isotopes which can be suitable for different applications.
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Società Italiana di Fisica and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2023. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
