Gd-loaded organic liquid scintillator for detection of supernova and reactor anti-neutrinos: Development and characterization

Abstract At the Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS), the know-how for producing metal-loaded organic liquid scintillator (LS) has been developed. In fact a joint collaboration of LNGS INFN and RAS (Russian Academy of Science) of Moscow has been carrying out an R&D phase, originated within the LENS (Low Energy Neutrino Spectroscopy) R&D project in order to synthesize highly In and Yb doped ([In,Y b]∼50–100 g/l) LS for detecting solar neutrinos. Then the research was readdressed to Gd for anti-neutrino experiments. In particular, I report on the development and characterization of newly formulated Gd-loaded organic LS and discuss the chemical composition, properties and stability of such scintillators.