Quantum tech to help weigh universe’s most elusive particle

Researchers are leading a £3.8 million project to develop quantum technology aimed at detecting the mass of a neutrino, the universe's most abundant but elusive particle of matter. UCL is playing a key role in three of the seven projects. Neutrinos are millions of times lighter than electrons and are poorly understood as they can pass through matter undetected. Working out their absolute mass is one of the outstanding challenges in particle physics and is critical to our understanding of the origin of matter and the early evolution of the universe. A team led by Professor Ruben Saakyan (UCL Physics & Astronomy) will develop quantum sensors that can detect electrons emitted in a radioactive decay of an atom with an unprecedented precision. This in turn will allow researchers to infer the neutrino mass. A magnetic trap in which atoms will be cooled to extremely low temperatures so they can be studied while almost at a standstill will be built at UCL.