Status of the SuperNEMO Demonstrator, a neutrinoless double beta decay experiment

SuperNEMO is searching for the hypothesised lepton-number-violating neutrinoless double-beta decay process \(0\nu\beta\beta\). A \(0\nu\beta\beta\) discovery would mean the neutrino is a Majorana particle, so its own antiparticle. This would open the way for physics beyond the Standard Model, providing a possible explanation for neutrino mass, as well as leads for the matter/anti-matter asymmetry. SuperNEMO's unique tracker-calorimeter detector tracks individual particle trajectories and energies. This enables powerful background rejection and detailed studies of Standard Model \(2\nu\beta\beta\) decay, leading to search for exotic physics and studies of nuclear effects.

The SuperNEMO Demonstrator at LSM, France, has a 6.1$\,$kg $^{82}$Se $\beta\beta\ $ source, and is taking background data vital to isolate future signals. Multi-layer shielding, now in finalisation, will allow $\beta\beta\ $data-taking this year.

The University of Edinburgh team has an important role in the collaboration, being active in all parts of the detector, such as building a helium recycling system, working on energy calibration, tracking reconstruction, magnetic field simulation, waveform analysis and data processing.

Event resources