Cowan–Reines neutrino experiment

E820011

The Cowan–Reines neutrino experiment was the first successful detection of neutrinos, providing direct experimental confirmation of their existence and validating key aspects of weak interaction theory.

All labels observed (4)

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf neutrino experiment
particle physics experiment
physics experiment
alsoKnownAs Reines–Cowan experiment
first neutrino detection experiment
conductedBy Clyde Cowan
Frederick Reines
linked to: Clyde Cowan
country United States of America
detectedParticle electron antineutrino
neutrino
detectionMethod inverse beta decay
endTime 1956
followedBy Reines–Gurr–Sobel neutrino experiments
solar neutrino experiments
hasKeyConcept antineutrino detection
beta decay
weak interaction
hasParticipant Clyde Cowan
Frederick Reines
inferredQuantity inverse beta decay cross section
neutrino flux from reactor
influenced development of neutrino physics
standard model of particle physics
linked to: Standard Model
location Savannah River Plant
linked to: Savannah River Site

South Carolina
mainResult experimental confirmation of the existence of neutrinos
first direct detection of neutrinos
observedReaction electron antineutrino + proton → neutron + positron
precededBy Fermi’s theory of beta decay
Pauli’s neutrino hypothesis
linked to: neutrino hypothesis
publicationYear 1956
recognizedBy Nobel Prize in Physics 1995 (awarded to Frederick Reines)
reportedBy Clyde Cowan
Frederick Reines
reportedIn Science
signature coincidence of positron annihilation gamma rays and delayed neutron capture gamma rays
startTime 1953
testedTheory weak interaction theory
timePeriod 1950s
usedCoincidenceTechnique time-coincidence detection of gamma rays
usedDetector liquid scintillation detector
water tank with dissolved cadmium chloride
usedSource Savannah River nuclear reactor
linked to: Savannah River Site

nuclear reactor
usedTargetMaterial hydrogen nuclei
proton-rich water
validatedAspectOf Fermi theory of beta decay
conservation of lepton number in beta decay

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (4)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

neutrino hypothesis eventuallyConfirmedBy Cowan–Reines neutrino experiment
Cowan–Reines neutrino experiment followedBy Reines–Gurr–Sobel neutrino experiments
linked to: Cowan–Reines neutrino experiment
electron antineutrino wasKeyTo Reines–Cowan neutrino experiment
linked to: Cowan–Reines neutrino experiment
Clyde Cowan experiment Savannah River neutrino experiment
linked to: Cowan–Reines neutrino experiment