Reactor Core Simulations for Determination of the Antineutrino Spectrum for the SoLid Experiment at BR 2 Reactor

Large quantities of antineutrinos are produced in a reactor due to beta decays of the fission products. The detection of these antineutrinos associated to reactor simulations could provide a method to assess both the thermal power and the evolution of the core fuel composition. One of the aims of the SoLid experiment located at the BR2 research reactor (SCK•CEN, Mol) is to investigate the ability of reactor monitoring with an antineutrino detector based on 6 Li scintillator and the use of such a detector for safeguards purpose. A detailed simulation of the BR2 reactor is needed to calculate the antineutrino spectrum emitted by the core for each cycle, i.e. for a given fuel loading map and operation history. A detailed MCNPX/CINDER90 3-D simulation of the fission rates distribution in the BR2 core will be coupled with the MURE (MCNP Utility for Reactor Evolution) code. The MCNP methodologies for the calculation of the emitted antineutrino spectrum and reactor core simulation are discussed. The results of first antineutrino rate prediction for the BR2 operation cycle 01/2015A are presented.