The HOLMES experiment: Status and perspective

Alpert, B.; Balata, M.; Becker, D.; Bennett, D.; Biasotti, M.; Ceriale, V.; de Gerone, M.; Dressler, R.; Faverzani, M.; Ferri, E.; Fowler, J.; Gallucci, G.; Gard, J.; Gatti, F.; Giachero, A.; Hays-Wehle, J.; Heinitz, S.; Hilton, G.; Koster, U.; Lusignoli, M.; Mates, J.; Nisi, S.; Nucciotti, A.; Orlando, A.; Pessina, G.; Puiu, A.; Ragazzi, S.; Reintsema, C.; Ribeiro-Gomes, M.; Schmidt, D.; Schumann, D.; Swetz, D.; Ullom, J.; Vale, L.

One of the most crucial challenges in today particle physics and cosmology is the determination of the neutrino absolute mass scale. Currently, the only model independent method to set a limit neutrino mass is the study of the nuclear beta spectrum end-point. Performing a calorimetric measurement of the end point of the Electron Capture decay spectrum of 163Ho, the HOLMES experiment aims at pushing down the sensitivity on the smallest neutrino mass at the order of ∼ eV. In its final configuration HOLMES will deploy an array of 1000 microcalorimeters based on Transition Edge Sensors with gold absorbers in which the 163Ho will be ion implanted with a target activity of 300 Hz/det. In order to achieve a statistical sensitivity on the neutrino mass in the eV range, there are stringent requirements on the detector performances: fast time resolution (∼ 1 µs) to solve pile-up events and an energy resolution of few eV at the Q-value (2.8 keV). Furthermore, the detectors must be multiplexable. The best technique to easily readout such a number of detector with a common readout line is the microwave frequency domain readout. We outline the HOLMES project with its physics reach and technical challenges together with its status and perspectives. In detail, we report the status of HOLMES activities concerning the 163Ho isotope production, the TES and multiplexed array read-out and the isotope embedding process.

The HOLMES experiment: Status and perspective

Alpert B.;Balata M.;Becker D.;Bennett D.;Biasotti M.;Ceriale V.;de Gerone M.;Dressler R.;Faverzani M.;Ferri E.;Fowler J.;Gallucci G.;Gard J.;Gatti F.;Giachero A.;Hays-Wehle J.;Heinitz S.;Hilton G.;Koster U.;Lusignoli M.;Mates J.;Nisi S.;Nucciotti A.;Orlando A.;Pessina G.;Puiu A.;Ragazzi S.;Reintsema C.;Ribeiro-Gomes M.;Schmidt D.;Schumann D.;Swetz D.;Ullom J.;Vale L.

2018-01-01

Abstract

One of the most crucial challenges in today particle physics and cosmology is the determination of the neutrino absolute mass scale. Currently, the only model independent method to set a limit neutrino mass is the study of the nuclear beta spectrum end-point. Performing a calorimetric measurement of the end point of the Electron Capture decay spectrum of 163Ho, the HOLMES experiment aims at pushing down the sensitivity on the smallest neutrino mass at the order of ∼ eV. In its final configuration HOLMES will deploy an array of 1000 microcalorimeters based on Transition Edge Sensors with gold absorbers in which the 163Ho will be ion implanted with a target activity of 300 Hz/det. In order to achieve a statistical sensitivity on the neutrino mass in the eV range, there are stringent requirements on the detector performances: fast time resolution (∼ 1 µs) to solve pile-up events and an energy resolution of few eV at the Q-value (2.8 keV). Furthermore, the detectors must be multiplexable. The best technique to easily readout such a number of detector with a common readout line is the microwave frequency domain readout. We outline the HOLMES project with its physics reach and technical challenges together with its status and perspectives. In detail, we report the status of HOLMES activities concerning the 163Ho isotope production, the TES and multiplexed array read-out and the isotope embedding process.