Project description
Advanced probes for neutrino research
Neutrinos are neutral subatomic particles generated in nuclear reactions, such as those in the sun, and during the decay of certain radioactive elements. Studying neutrinos may only be possible through a theoretical process known as neutrinoless double-beta decay. However, this decay is incredibly rare, with events predicted to occur only once in over a quintillion years, making detection very challenging. Experiments like CUORE use extremely cold detectors and large amounts of specific crystals to search for these events, but background noise complicates the search. The ERC-funded OPOSSUM project aims to improve detection by adding advanced sensors to these crystals, helping to distinguish real signals from noise and bringing us closer to discovering the true nature of neutrinos.
Objective
The observation of neutrinoless double-beta decay (0) would revolutionise our understanding of neutrinos by affirming their Majorana nature and shedding light on their absolute mass scale and hierarchy. Detecting its monochromatic peak at MeV levels, with half-lives over 1026 years, is a significant challenge. Scientists are striving to push the scale of experimental exposures to tons of material per years. It is only in a background-free experiment that sensitivity scales linearly with exposure, maximising the benefits of increased detector mass. The forefront of this search lies with ton-scale arrays of bolometers at mK temperatures, such as CUORE, which investigates 0 in 130Te using TeO2 crystals, known for their exceptional energy resolution but plagued by background event identification challenges. With its 34% isotopic abundance 130Te emerges as the leading 0 candidate, bypassing the need for the now-challenged enrichment process.
OPOSSUM will revolutionise event detection by outfitting 12 CUORE-crystals with six quantum limited sensors (Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors) and a thermistor. This innovative approach will enable discrimination of events by classifying them as Single Site or Multi Site Events. Through pulse-shape analysis, OPOSSUM is set to tag 0 signals with 3 distinction from any background. This method has the potential to lower CUORE's background from 10-2 to below 10-4 counts/keV/kg/year.
The success of OPOSSUM will facilitate rapid deployment within the existing setup without extensive R&D or major financial outlay. OPOSSUM-1ton is poised to become the first bolometric ton-scale, background-free experiment that can aim at surpassing the inverted hierarchy scenario, i.e. <10 meV Majorana mass.
My vast experimental knowledge in low-temperature detectors is crucial for OPOSSUM's mission to push the boundaries of particle physics as per the EU Astroparticle committee recommendation for the neutrino physics programme.
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. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- social sciences sociology social issues social inequalities
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2024-STG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
00044 Frascati
Italy
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