Project description
Advancing particle physics
Neutrinoless double beta decay (0n2b) is a theoretical nuclear transition whose observation would become a major milestone in particle and in neutrino physics. This process, if it exists, violates lepton number conservation law and confirms the Majorana nature of neutrino, providing essential information for completeness of the particle physics model. The detection of 0n2b is a challenging task, since it is a very rare decay, and the experiments require highly performant detectors and very low background levels. The ERC-funded TINY project proposes new detection technology, based on 96-Zr and 150-Nd cryogenic detectors (measured at sub-Kelvin temperatures). The small-scale demonstrator will be built, capable of showing the applicability of such detectors on the large scale with good reproducibility for a future ton-scale experiment.
Objective
The TINY experiment will focus on the investigation of neutrinoless double beta decay (0n2b) with 96Zr and 150Nd isotopes. The search for 0n2b is a hot topic in particle physics, as the discovery of this rare nuclear process would establish the Majorana nature of neutrino, fix the neutrino mass scale, and prove lepton number non-conservation, setting the grounds for new physics beyond the Standard Model.
The current and near-future large-scale searches for 0n2b do not include the nuclei chosen for the TINY project, due to the unavailability of an appropriate scalable detector technology for these candidates. Both 96Zr and 150Nd have the crucial advantage of very high transition energy for the 0n2b process, which would allow obtaining a higher sensitivity to the effective Majorana mass compared to other isotope candidates.
Bolometric detectors with high energy resolution and active particle identification will be developed during the project execution. 96Zr will be embedded into ZrO2 crystals, measured with thermal sensors and coupled to auxiliary light detectors for active alpha particles rejection. 150Nd will be studied with magnetic NdGaO3 absorbers and athermal phonon sensors. Particle identification will be achieved via pulse shape discrimination. The first ever efficient measurement of a magnetic compound as a bolometer will open the way to new opportunities in low-temperature particle detection.
The TINY pilot experiment, consisting of a-few-kg scale underground demonstrator, will be able to set the best limits worldwide on the 0n2b half-lives for both 96Zr and 150Nd isotopes. Very low background in the region of interest will be obtained thanks to high transition energy and alpha rejection. Not only will this project be competitive in the international context on a short time scale, but also it will open up new perspectives for ton-scale experiments that can surpass any existing technology in terms of sensitivity to the Majorana neutrino mass.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
- natural sciencesphysical sciencestheoretical physicsparticle physicsneutrinos
- natural sciencesphysical sciencestheoretical physicsparticle physicsleptons
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesatomic physics
- social sciencessociologysocial issuessocial inequalities
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensors
You need to log in or register to use this function
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Topic(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC GrantsHost institution
75015 PARIS 15
France