PhD project: Neutrinoless double-beta decay searches
Project description
Einstein's theory of relativity explains how matter can be created from energy - but every process we've seen generates equal amounts of matter and antimatter. As we live in a universe overwhelmingly dominated by matter, this leads to one of physics' biggest mysteries - how was the matter-antimatter asymmetry generated?
Neutrinoless double-beta decay (0νββ) could provide an explanation. It’s a proposed radioactive decay that would create matter (electrons) without antimatter. If it exists, it could not only give a clue to the origin of the universe but to another long-standing particle-physics mystery – why, contrary to the Standard Model, do neutrinos have mass?
We know that if 0νββ does exist, it has a very long half-life – trillions of times longer than the age of the universe – so we need very clean, low-background detectors if we want a chance of seeing it. The SuperNEMO collaboration has built a detector at the Modane Underground Laboratory in the French Alps, which uses a unique tracker-calorimeter design to track the electrons from possible 0νββ decays and measure their energies. As well as searching for neutrinoless double-beta decay, this design allows us to learn about nuclear physics by studying associated Standard Model decays. Our detector is now taking data.
The Edinburgh group has a lead role in SuperNEMO experiment - Edinburgh physicists were involved in the construction of the tracking detector and the helium recycling system that recirculates the gas inside the detector. We also take a lead in data analysis, software and reconstruction. When SuperNEMO's run ends, there may be opportunities to work on a complementary 0νββ experiment, such as LEGEND at the Gran Sasso lab in Italy.
Possible projects
- Commissioning and calibration of the SuperNEMO tracker
- Physics analysis: double-beta decay and background measurements
- Nuclear physics studies with double-beta decay data
If you are interested in pursuing a Master's or PhD in any of the above areas or if you have an idea of your own then please get in contact with cpatrick [at] ed.ac.uk (subject: Double-beta%20decay%20PhD%2Fmasters) (Cheryl Patrick).
Project supervisor
- Dr Cheryl Patrick (School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Edinburgh)
The project supervisor welcomes informal enquiries about this project.
Find out more about this research area
The links below summarise our research in the area(s) relevant to this project:
- Find out more about Neutrinos.
- Find out more about Particle Physics Experiment.
- Find out more about the Institute for Particle and Nuclear Physics.
What next?
- Find out how to apply for our PhD degrees.
- Find out about fees and funding and studentship opportunities.
- View and complete the application form (on the main University website).
- Find out how to contact us for more information.