General information
Organisation
The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) is a key player in research, development and innovation in four main areas :
• defence and security,
• nuclear energy (fission and fusion),
• technological research for industry,
• fundamental research in the physical sciences and life sciences.
Drawing on its widely acknowledged expertise, and thanks to its 16000 technicians, engineers, researchers and staff, the CEA actively participates in collaborative projects with a large number of academic and industrial partners.
The CEA is established in ten centers spread throughout France
Reference
SL-DRF-24-0243
Direction
DRF
Thesis topic details
Category
Corpuscular physics and outer space
Thesis topics
Development of cryogenic detectors with particle identification for double beta decay searches
Contract
Thèse
Job description
Neutrinoless double beta decay (0n2b) is a theoretical nuclear transition, whose observation would become a major milestone in particle, and in particular, neutrino physics. This process, if it exists, violates lepton number conservation law and confirms Majorana nature of neutrino. The detection of 0n2b is a challenging task, since it is a very rare decay (T1/2>10^26 years), and the experiments require high detection efficiency, energy resolution, radiopurity, large mass and very low background levels. Several ton-scale experiments are in preparation, but in paralell, new approaches have to be investigated for higher sensitivity levels. The TINY project proposes new detection technology, based on cryogenic detectors (measured at mK temperatures). The thesis subject will be mainly dedicated to the development of new thermal sensors, Zr- and Nd-containing detectors characterization, performance evaluation and evaluation of technology applicability for a ton-scale experiment. The student will develop skills on operation of cryogenic facility, signal processing, data analysis and simulations. Finally, a demonstrator will be prepared with the goal to set new limits on 0n2b for 96-Zr and 150-Nd, and perform precision measurements of 2n2b decay.
University / doctoral school
PHENIICS (PHENIICS)
Paris-Saclay
Thesis topic location
Site
Saclay
Requester
Position start date
01/11/2024
Person to be contacted by the applicant
Nones Claudia claudia.nones@cea.fr
CEA
DRF
Bat.141 - Pce 41A
0169083520
Tutor / Responsible thesis director
Nones Claudia claudia.nones@cea.fr
CEA
DRF
Bat.141 - Pce 41A
0169083520
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