text: Inverse beta decay proceeds as
  where an electron antineutrino () interacts with a proton () to produce a positron () and a neutron (). The IBD reaction can only be initiated when the antineutrino possesses at least 1.806 MeV of kinetic energy (called the threshold energy).  This threshold energy is due to a difference in mass between the products ( and ) and the reactants ( and ) and also slightly due to a relativistic mass effect on the antineutrino.  Most of the antineutrino energy is distributed to the positron due to its small mass relative to the neutron.  The positron promptly undergoes matter–antimatter annihilation after creation and yields a flash of light with energy calculated as
  where 511 keV is the electron and positron rest energy,  is the visible energy from the reaction, and  is the antineutrino kinetic energy.  After the prompt positron annihilation, the neutron undergoes neutron capture on an element in the detector, producing a delayed flash of 2.22 MeV if captured on a proton. The timing of the delayed capture is 200–300 microseconds after IBD initiation ( in the Borexino detector).  The timing and spatial coincidence between the prompt positron annihilation and delayed neutron capture provides a clear IBD signature in neutrino detectors, allowing for discrimination from background. The IBD cross section is dependent on antineutrino energy and capturing element, although is generally on the order of 10 cm (~ attobarns).