Project description
Weighing the lightest known particles
Neutrinos, once thought to be massless, must have mass to explain neutrino oscillations. Their absolute mass is still unknown, and new technology development is required to surpass current experimental sensitivity limits. Determining neutrino mass is key for both particle physics and cosmology. Funded by the ERC, the NuMass project is tackling this challenge with a resonant cavity detector designed for unprecedented precision. The system will trap neutral atomic tritium and detect beta decay electrons using cyclotron radiation emission spectroscopy. By amplifying electron radiation inside a cubic-metre cavity, it will simultaneously boost sensitive volume and precision. NuMass will also deliver new tools for ultracold atom research and precision measurement technologies.
Objective
Neutrinos, assumed massless in the Standard Model of particle physics, must have masses to explain the observation of neutrino oscillations. However, the absolute neutrino mass scale remains elusive. Laboratory measurements using tritium beta decay provide the most direct and model-independent means of determining neutrino mass. Yet, current experiments utilizing molecular tritium sources face fundamental sensitivity limits. This project aims to develop a groundbreaking resonant cavity detector capable of performing neutrino mass measurements with unprecedented precision.
Within this project, I will develop and build a resonant cavity, laying the foundations for the next-generation neutrino mass measurement. The detector will simultaneously serve as a high- volume trap for neutral atomic tritium and as a detector for beta decay electrons. Utilizing cyclotron radiation emission spectroscopy (CRES) in a cubic-meter-scale cavity, this technique promises to significantly enhance sensitivity by resonantly amplifying the power of emitted radiation from trapped electrons, which has never been demonstrated. This will increase the CRES-sensitive volume by five orders of magnitude and reduce the power threshold for signal detection by four orders of magnitude, enabling high-precision measurements that could decisively determine the neutrino mass scale.
Beyond its critical role in advancing neutrino physics, this project will contribute innovative tools and methodologies to the ultracold atom community and other precision measurement fields. By overcoming existing technological barriers, this detector paves the way for revolutionary advancements in our understanding of fundamental particles.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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.
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.
Funding Scheme
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.
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
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2025-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.
9000 Gent
Belgium
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.