ERNIE: A reactor antineutrino inverse beta decay event generator

Abstract

We present ERNIE, a computer program which generates nuclear reactor electron antineutrinos and inverse beta decay events induced by these particles, using the Monte-Carlo method. The program allows the usage of different antineutrino energy spectra models and can simulate the time evolution of the overall antineutrino spectrum because of the burn-up effect. The output of the program can readily be used in detector simulations made with e.g. GEANT 4. Program summaryProgram Title: ERNIECPC Library link to program files:https://doi.org/10.17632/grk8256yr6.1Developer's repository link:https://github.com/murataltinli/ERNIELicensing provisions: GNU General Public License 3Programming language: C++External libraries: ROOT, HepMC3Nature of problem: Simulations are an important tool in designing and operating particle detectors. Reactor neutrino detector simulations require accurate simulations of the neutrinos emitted by nuclear reactors and their interactions with the detectors. Such a neutrino simulation must allow for the usage of different energy spectra and the time evolution of the neutrino flux due to the burn-up effect. Currently, there is no publicly available software to fulfill these tasks.Solution method: Our program generates reactor neutrinos and inverse beta decay events using Monte-Carlo method. The program features various neutrino energy spectrum models, also allowing usage of user defined models. The time evolution of neutrino flux can be modeled with two different methods. The program exports the generated data in formats commonly used in particle physics studies, and hence the data can readily be used.