Indirect Detection of Neutrinos through Beta Decay
Major
Physics
Submission Type
Poster
Area of Study or Work
Physics
Faculty Advisor
Gabriel C. Spalding
Location
CNS Atrium
Start Date
4-12-2025 8:30 AM
End Date
4-12-2025 9:30 AM
Abstract
The current standard model of particle physics does not allow neutrinos to have mass, however, neutrino oscillation experiments have shown that they do. This has significant implications as theorists work to develop a more comprehensive understanding beyond the standard model. Additionally, several international labs are currently investigating a postulate that neutrinos may have played a role in matter-antimatter asymmetry in the early universe. We would like to assess how/why neutrinos change flavor. Unfortunately, because they lack electrical charge and have almost negligible mass, direct detection of neutrinos is beyond the capabilities of anyone not working in the largest of international laboratories. Nuclear decay is a ubiquitous part of the environment that surrounds all of us, and proceeds via either alpha decay, beta decay, or gamma decay. In beta decay, an unstable nucleus emits either an electron and an antineutrino, or else it emits a positron (the antimatter counterpart of the electron) and a neutrino. We aim to examine beta decay using a fairly simple apparatus – a small homemade vacuum chamber housing a (very) weak radioactive source, and a small Geiger tube. The Geiger tube is capable of detecting the emitted electron or positron, but the placement of the Geiger tube, on the opposite side of lead shielding, means that detection can only occur if the trajectory of the charged electron or positron is appropriately curved, via the application of an external magnetic field. This configuration should allow us to explore the distribution of speeds associated with the emitted electrons. This project involves milling the customized vacuum chamber out of a block of metal, using our on-campus CNC, and developing skills in the GCode used to control this robotic system. A complementary approach to our study of beta decay will utilize coincidence detection to map out possible angular correlations.
Indirect Detection of Neutrinos through Beta Decay
CNS Atrium
The current standard model of particle physics does not allow neutrinos to have mass, however, neutrino oscillation experiments have shown that they do. This has significant implications as theorists work to develop a more comprehensive understanding beyond the standard model. Additionally, several international labs are currently investigating a postulate that neutrinos may have played a role in matter-antimatter asymmetry in the early universe. We would like to assess how/why neutrinos change flavor. Unfortunately, because they lack electrical charge and have almost negligible mass, direct detection of neutrinos is beyond the capabilities of anyone not working in the largest of international laboratories. Nuclear decay is a ubiquitous part of the environment that surrounds all of us, and proceeds via either alpha decay, beta decay, or gamma decay. In beta decay, an unstable nucleus emits either an electron and an antineutrino, or else it emits a positron (the antimatter counterpart of the electron) and a neutrino. We aim to examine beta decay using a fairly simple apparatus – a small homemade vacuum chamber housing a (very) weak radioactive source, and a small Geiger tube. The Geiger tube is capable of detecting the emitted electron or positron, but the placement of the Geiger tube, on the opposite side of lead shielding, means that detection can only occur if the trajectory of the charged electron or positron is appropriately curved, via the application of an external magnetic field. This configuration should allow us to explore the distribution of speeds associated with the emitted electrons. This project involves milling the customized vacuum chamber out of a block of metal, using our on-campus CNC, and developing skills in the GCode used to control this robotic system. A complementary approach to our study of beta decay will utilize coincidence detection to map out possible angular correlations.