Searches for Massive Neutrinos with Mechanical Quantum Sensors
The development of quantum optomechanics now allows mechanical sensors with femtogram masses to be controlled and measured in the quantum regime. If the mechanical element contains isotopes that undergo nuclear decay, measuring the recoil of the sensor following the decay allows reconstruction of th...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
American Physical Society
2023-02-01
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| Series: | PRX Quantum |
| Online Access: | http://doi.org/10.1103/PRXQuantum.4.010315 |
| _version_ | 1828038930613665792 |
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| author | Daniel Carney Kyle G. Leach David C. Moore |
| author_facet | Daniel Carney Kyle G. Leach David C. Moore |
| author_sort | Daniel Carney |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The development of quantum optomechanics now allows mechanical sensors with femtogram masses to be controlled and measured in the quantum regime. If the mechanical element contains isotopes that undergo nuclear decay, measuring the recoil of the sensor following the decay allows reconstruction of the total momentum of all emitted particles, including any neutral particles that may escape detection in traditional detectors. As an example, for weak nuclear decays the momentum of the emitted neutrino can be reconstructed on an event-by-event basis. We present the concept that a single nanometer-scale optically levitated sensor operated with sensitivity near the standard quantum limit can search for heavy sterile neutrinos in the keV-MeV mass range with sensitivity significantly beyond existing laboratory constraints. We also comment on the possibility that mechanical sensors operated well into the quantum regime might ultimately reach the sensitivities required to provide an absolute measurement of the mass of the light neutrino states. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T16:34:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-457051270dc343229574199552b517f5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2691-3399 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T16:34:24Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | American Physical Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PRX Quantum |
| spelling | doaj.art-457051270dc343229574199552b517f52023-02-08T15:02:42ZengAmerican Physical SocietyPRX Quantum2691-33992023-02-014101031510.1103/PRXQuantum.4.010315Searches for Massive Neutrinos with Mechanical Quantum SensorsDaniel CarneyKyle G. LeachDavid C. MooreThe development of quantum optomechanics now allows mechanical sensors with femtogram masses to be controlled and measured in the quantum regime. If the mechanical element contains isotopes that undergo nuclear decay, measuring the recoil of the sensor following the decay allows reconstruction of the total momentum of all emitted particles, including any neutral particles that may escape detection in traditional detectors. As an example, for weak nuclear decays the momentum of the emitted neutrino can be reconstructed on an event-by-event basis. We present the concept that a single nanometer-scale optically levitated sensor operated with sensitivity near the standard quantum limit can search for heavy sterile neutrinos in the keV-MeV mass range with sensitivity significantly beyond existing laboratory constraints. We also comment on the possibility that mechanical sensors operated well into the quantum regime might ultimately reach the sensitivities required to provide an absolute measurement of the mass of the light neutrino states.http://doi.org/10.1103/PRXQuantum.4.010315 |
| spellingShingle | Daniel Carney Kyle G. Leach David C. Moore Searches for Massive Neutrinos with Mechanical Quantum Sensors PRX Quantum |
| title | Searches for Massive Neutrinos with Mechanical Quantum Sensors |
| title_full | Searches for Massive Neutrinos with Mechanical Quantum Sensors |
| title_fullStr | Searches for Massive Neutrinos with Mechanical Quantum Sensors |
| title_full_unstemmed | Searches for Massive Neutrinos with Mechanical Quantum Sensors |
| title_short | Searches for Massive Neutrinos with Mechanical Quantum Sensors |
| title_sort | searches for massive neutrinos with mechanical quantum sensors |
| url | http://doi.org/10.1103/PRXQuantum.4.010315 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT danielcarney searchesformassiveneutrinoswithmechanicalquantumsensors AT kylegleach searchesformassiveneutrinoswithmechanicalquantumsensors AT davidcmoore searchesformassiveneutrinoswithmechanicalquantumsensors |