Japan and Europe Network for Neutrino and Intensity Frontier Experimental Research

Project Information

JENNIFER

Grant agreement ID: 644294

DOI

10.3030/644294

Project closed

EC signature date 14 November 2014

Start date 1 April 2015

End date 31 March 2019

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 2 308 500,00

EU contribution

€ 2 308 500,00

Coordinated by

ISTITUTO NAZIONALE DI FISICA NUCLEARE
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - JENNIFER (Japan and Europe Network for Neutrino and Intensity Frontier Experimental Research)

Reporting period: 2017-04-01 to 2019-03-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The JENNIFER project addresses two main issues:
1. the construction, operation and data analysis of the Belle II experiment, which in the next years will collect an unprecedented data sample at the SuperKEKB accelerator at KEK laboratory, where to look for tiny signals of new physics phenomena, in a completely complementary way to the direct searches performed at LHC.
2. The precise measurement of the neutrino oscillation parameters at the T2K experiment and the design of the future neutrino facility in Japan, with the aim of improving the precision of the measurement up to reveal new properties, such as the so called “CP violation”.
Such issues and objectives belong to the research in fundamental physics which aims to understand the basic nature laws, and in turn the origin and evolution of our universe. However, such challenging experimental research require always relevant technology insights, which result in a boost for industrial innovation. Moreover the scientific collaboration between Europe and Japan and the wide communication activities included in JENNIFER are by itself an added value for the European society.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

JENNIFER groups have already performed a detailed study of all the physics processes expected at Belle II and of the experimental reachable accuracy. Challenging detectors have been developed and built for the Belle II experiment: silicon trackers, particle identification detectors, photosensors, diamond sensors, scintillating crystals. Other detectors have been designed and developed in view of the future neutrino facility, including different kind of photosensors, real time systems, data management achitecture. Finally, new and precise measurement of neutrino interactions have been performed.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

From the physics point of view the JENNIFER project already produced improved studies and theoretical predictions of all the processes expected to be produced at SuperKEKB, which will have to be compared with experimental measurements as soon as data will be produced. On the neutrino side, the detailed measurement of the neutrino cross section and the combined analysis with antineutrinos are a big step forward to the understanding of the nature of such particles.
From the detector point of view, silicon sensors developed in JENNIFER are a challenging, but specific, application of the available technology, while a variety of photo-sensors are used and tested, with different properties which can find applications in nearby fields, like medical imaging and environmental monitoring.
JENNIFER is allowing to a community of about 200 european scientists to spend longer time doing research in Japan, in close collaboration with Japanese groups, thus fostering the sinergy and the cultural exchange between Europe and Japan. JENNIFER communication activities also enrich the European society involvement into the fundamental research and may push young people to start a research career.

Logo of the JENNIFER Project