Institute for Nuclear and Particle Astrophysics (INPA) at LBNL
The INPA Seminar weekly talks are on Fridays, starting at 12:00 pm, unless informed otherwise. The seminar talk starts with a brief presentation of the weekly scientific news. Typically, the talks conclude by 1:00 pm. The seminars are held in the Sessler Conference Room, located in Bldg. 50A- 5132.
The committee members are:
The seminar schedule for the Institute for Nuclear and Particle Astrophysics (INPA) is tentative and becomes final a few days before the Friday talk.
Please send all suggestions for future INPA talks and speakers to the INPA Committee.
To be added to the INPA News Mailing List, please contact Erica Hall.
INPA Seminar Speaker: Larisa Throne (JGU Mainz)-Title: The Role of Atomic Tritium in Future Neutrino Mass Experiments
February 21 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Date: February 21, 2025
Time: 12:00 am – 1:00 pm
Location: Sessler Conference Room – 50A-5132 [Hybrid and In-Person]
Speaker:Larisa Throne (JGU Mainz)
Title: The Role of Atomic Tritium in Future Neutrino Mass Experiments
Abstract: Nearly 70 years since the neutrino was discovered and 25 years since the discovery of neutrino oscillations established its non-zero mass, the absolute neutrino-mass scale remains unknown. Tritium beta decay endpoint measurements currently offer the best upper limit on the neutrino mass. A next-generation experiment with greater sensitivity must overcome one of the major systematics for this kind of measurement: the molecular nature of the beta decay source. Current and past tritium beta decay experiments use a molecular tritium source in which one of the tritium atoms undergoes decay. A fraction of the decay energy excites the molecule into rotational, vibrational, or electronic excited states; this causes broadening in the molecule’s final state distribution (FSD), and has a smearing effect on the beta decay spectrum. In order to achieve a reduced systematic uncertainty due to this FSD smearing, next-generation experiments must switch to an atomic tritium source.
I will present an overview of the necessary steps to develop an atomic tritium source through the lens of the Project 8 experiment. This multi-institution development program includes dissociation of molecular tritium, cooling the resulting tritium atoms via a two-step process down to 10mK, and trapping them magnetically. In addition to this overview, I will focus on the multitude of tritium-compatible diagnostic tools being developed at JGU Mainz to measure atom flux, atom beam shape, and temperature.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://lbnl.zoom.us/j/95016696011?pwd=Tk1XOW1Xd3RYRnlsc2tEYmRWZlVVZz09
Meeting ID: 950 1669 6011
Passcode: 247722
INPA guests from campus can now come to the lab early on Fridays. The INPA Common Room (50-5026) is reserved for our guests from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Note that the seminars are now held in 50A-5132 to accommodate a more significant number of attendees.
CPTea Series (also known as INPA Tea Series)
The Physics Division CPTea Series invites you to an In-Person Tea Series 1st Friday of every month at 3:30 pm INPA Conference Room 50-5026.
Everyone is welcome to attend the open forum. Tea and light refreshments will be served.
INPA Common Room (50-5026)
Fridays
3:30 pm
Access to the Lab
For a shuttle pass, please email Erica Hall. The pass is only valid for the day of the seminar.