Speaker
Description
Project 8 aims to determine the neutrino mass by precisely measuring the electron kinetic energy near the tritium beta-decay endpoint.
Electrons are trapped in a magnetic field and emit radiation with a frequency related to their kinetic energy. This technique, pioneered by Project 8, is called Cyclotron Radiation Spectroscopy (CRES). Recently, Phase II was completed, illustrating a start-to-end analysis setting an upper limit on the neutrino mass. To advance to a competitive mass limit, Project 8 is pursuing resonant microwave cavities, boosting the signal-to-noise ratio while enabling larger volumes. The next demonstrator, the Cavity CRES Apparatus (CCA), is currently being constructed.
This talk presents the CCA progress and the model of the emitted signal and noise power entering the readout. Ultimately, quantum-limited readout is required, driving multiple R&D efforts, one of which is the development of TWPAs at high (~20GHz) and low (~500MHz) frequencies. These superconducting Josephson-based amplifiers offer a path towards high gain, broad bandwidth amplification with the required dynamic range.
