Probing the absolute neutrino mass scale with 163 Ho: The HOLMES project
- Creators
- De Gerone, M.
- Alpert, B.
- Becker, D.
- Bennett, D.
- Biasotti, M.
- Ceriale, V.
- Dressler, R.
- Faverzani, M.
- Ferri, E.
- Fowler, J.
- Gallucci, G.
- Gard, J.
- Gatti, F.
- Giachero, A.
- Hays-Wehle, J.
- Heinitz, S.
- Hilton, G.
- Koester, U.
- Lusignoli, M.
- Mates, J.
- Nucciotti, A.
- Nisi, S.
- Orlando, A.
- Pessina, G.
- Puiu, A.
- Ragazzi, S.
- Reintsema, C.
- Ribeiro Gomes, M.
- Schmidt, D.
- Schumann, D.
- Swetz, D.
- Ullom, J.
- Vale, L.
- Others:
- De Gerone, M.
- Alpert, B.
- Becker, D.
- Bennett, D.
- Biasotti, M.
- Ceriale, V.
- Dressler, R.
- Faverzani, M.
- Ferri, E.
- Fowler, J.
- Gallucci, G.
- Gard, J.
- Gatti, F.
- Giachero, A.
- Hays-Wehle, J.
- Heinitz, S.
- Hilton, G.
- Koester, U.
- Lusignoli, M.
- Mates, J.
- Nucciotti, A.
- Nisi, S.
- Orlando, A.
- Pessina, G.
- Puiu, A.
- Ragazzi, S.
- Reintsema, C.
- Ribeiro Gomes, M.
- Schmidt, D.
- Schumann, D.
- Swetz, D.
- Ullom, J.
- Vale, L.
Description
The HOLMES project aims to directly measure the [Formula presented] mass down to the eV scale using the electron capture decay (EC) of 163 Ho. It will perform a precise calorimetric measurement of the end-point of the Ho energy spectrum looking for the deformation caused by a finite [Formula presented] mass. The choice of 163 Ho as source is driven by the very low Q-value of the EC reaction, which allows for high sensitivity with low activities (O(10[Formula presented])Bq/detector), thus reducing the pile-up probability. A large array made by thousands of transition edge sensors based micro-calorimeters will be used. The calorimetric approach eliminates systematic uncertainties arising from the use of an external [Formula presented] source, and minimizes the effect of the atomic de-excitation process. The commissioning of the first implanted sub-array is scheduled for the end of 2018. It will provide useful data about the EC decay of 163 Ho together with a first limit on [Formula presented] mass.
Additional details
- URL
- http://hdl.handle.net/11567/939975
- URN
- urn:oai:iris.unige.it:11567/939975
- Origin repository
- UNIGE