Production of Electron Neutrinos at Nuclear Power Reactors and the Prospects for Neutrino Physics

High flux of electron neutrinos($\nue$) is produced at nuclear power reactors through the decays of nuclei activated by neutron capture. Realistic simulation studies on the neutron transport and capture at the reactor core were performed. The production of Cr-51 and Fe-55 give rise to mono-energetic $\nue$'s at Q-values of 753 keV and 231 keV and fluxes of 8.3X10^{-4} and 3.0X10^{-4} $\nue$/fission, respectively. Using data from a germanium detector at the Kuo-Sheng Power Plant, direct limits on the $\nue$ magnetic moment and the radiative lifetime of $\mu_{\nu} (\nue) < 1.3X10^{-8} \mub$ and $\rm{\tau_{\nu} / m_{\nu} > 0.04 s eV^{-1}}$ at 90% confidence level, respectively, were derived. Indirect bound of $\rm{\tau_{\nu} m_{\nu}^3 > 5.7 \times 10 ^{14} ~ eV ^3 s}$ at 90% CL was also inferred. The $\nue$ flux can be enhanced by loading selected isotopes to the reactor core, and the potential applications and achievable sensitivities were examined. These include accurate cross-section measurements, searches of the $\theta_{13}$ mixing angle and the monitoring of plutonium production.