Journal article 338 views 7 downloads
Determining absolute neutrino mass using quantum technologies
,
M Fleck ,
J Gallop,
T Goffrey ,
L Hao,
N Higginbotham,
S D Hogan ,
S B Jones ,
Lijie Li ,
N McConkey ,
V Monachello,
R Nichol ,
J A Potter ,
Y Ramachers ,
R Saakyan ,
E Sedzielewski,
D Swinnock,
D Waters,
S Withington ,
S Zhao ,
J Zou
New Journal of Physics, Volume: 27, Issue: 10, Start page: 105006
Swansea University Authors:
Alan Amad, Lijie Li
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DOI (Published version): 10.1088/1367-2630/adc624
Abstract
Next generation tritium decay experiments to determine the absolute neutrino mass require high-precision measurements of β-decay electron energies close to the kinematic end point. To achieve this, the development of high phase-space density sources of atomic tritium is required, along with the impl...
| Published in: | New Journal of Physics |
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| ISSN: | 1367-2630 |
| Published: |
IOP Publishing
2025
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| Online Access: |
Check full text
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa68526 |
| Abstract: |
Next generation tritium decay experiments to determine the absolute neutrino mass require high-precision measurements of β-decay electron energies close to the kinematic end point. To achieve this, the development of high phase-space density sources of atomic tritium is required, along with the implementation of methods to control the motion of these atoms to allow extended observation times. A promising approach to efficiently and accurately measure the kinetic energies of individual β-decay electrons generated in these dilute atomic gases, is to determine the frequency of the cyclotron radiation they emit in a precisely characterised magnetic field. This cyclotron radiation emission spectroscopy (CRES) technique can benefit from recent developments in quantum technologies. Absolute static-field magnetometry and electrometry, which is essential for the precise determination of the electron kinetic energies from the frequency of their emitted cyclotron radiation, can be performed using atoms in superpositions of circular Rydberg states. Quantum-limited microwave amplifiers will allow precise cyclotron frequency measurements to be made with maximal signal-to-noise ratios and minimal observation times. Exploiting the opportunities offered by quantum technologies in these key areas, represents the core activity of the Quantum Technologies for Neutrino Mass (QTNM) project. Its goal is to develop a new experimental apparatus that can enable a determination of the absolute neutrino mass with a sensitivity on the order of 10~meV/c2. |
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| Keywords: |
neutrino mass, tritium β-decay, atomic tritium source, cyclotron radiation emission spectroscopy (CRES), quantum-limited microwave receivers, Rydberg states magnetometry, quantum technologies |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Funders: |
This work was supported by the UK Science and Technology Facilities Research Council (STFC) through the Quantum Technologies for Neutrino Mass (QTNM) Project (Grant No. ST/T006439/1). NM is grateful to the STFC for their support through an Ernest Rutherford Fellowship (ST/W003880/1). ES is grateful for the support of the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union. |
| Issue: |
10 |
| Start Page: |
105006 |