Project description DEENESFRITPL Looking for a dark neutrino needle in a haystack is about to get much easier The light to be shed on gaps in the so-called Standard Model of particle physics could be lurking in the dark sector (dark matter, dark radiation and dark energy), specifically in one or more particles associated with it that may have very weak couplings to the Standard Model. The strongest interactions between the Standard Model and the dark sector always involve a neutrino. However, finding a predicted particle purported to arise out of very rare interactions between neutrinos and the dark sector is no easy task. The EU-funded TheDarkNeutrino project is developing novel software 'trigger' algorithms for CERN's pioneering NA62 experiment and beyond, which will be able to detect these very rare dark neutrino events in data sets with exquisite accuracy. The project's success could change our understanding of particle physics. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective This project aims to discover a new particle, the dark neutrino, in K+ decays at the NA62 experiment at CERN. This scientific breakthrough would be a major leap in our understanding of particle physics, answering several profound questions related to neutrino oscillations, the generation of neutrino masses, and the neutrino mass scale. The dark neutrino is predicted in so-called ‘dark sector’ models with neutrino and vector portals to the Standard Model. The NA62 experiment studies the decays of 75 GeV/c kaons using a decay-in-flight technique, and has unique sensitivity to the dark neutrino despite its feeble couplings to the Standard Model. There could be as many as 20000 dark neutrino events in the NA62 2017/18 dataset, which is ~20 times larger than those collected by previous kaon experiments, that have evaded detection due to ineffective searches. We propose a novel and innovative search to bridge this research gap, which can only be achieved using the powerful NA62 detector. Furthermore, the NA62 experiment expects to collect data for several years, with the new data-taking period to begin in Summer 2021. The experiment will take data at 50% higher rate, motivating improvements to the trigger system. We propose to develop new software trigger algorithms to be deployed on the NA62 experiments High Performance Computing resources, utilising data from two new detector systems that will be added to the experiment before 2021. This will be the final NA62 data taking period, but dark neutrino models have a rich structure that motivates additional searches. We propose to work with theorists at CP3 (the host institute) to explore and benchmark different varieties of dark neutrino models, with the aim to motivate more novel searches at NA62 and beyond. Two workshops will be arranged to bring together the experimental and theoretical communities that study the dark sector, to stimulate discussion and forge new collaboration. Fields of science natural sciencesphysical sciencestheoretical physicsparticle physicsneutrinosnatural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwareengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringcomputer hardwaresupercomputers Keywords new physics dark sector neutrinos kaon decays kaon experiment NA62 software triggers Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2019 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2019 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF) Coordinator UNIVERSITE CATHOLIQUE DE LOUVAIN Net EU contribution € 166 320,00 Address Place de l universite 1 1348 Louvain la neuve Belgium See on map Region Région wallonne Prov. Brabant Wallon Arr. Nivelles Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00
