Ultra-low Q values for neutrino mass measurements

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential of using ultra-low Q value nuclear decays, including ionization techniques, to improve sensitivity in measuring the absolute neutrino mass scale, highlighting experimental challenges and future prospects.

Contribution

It proposes methods to tune Q values to below 1 keV using partial ionization and discusses candidate isotopes and experimental challenges for neutrino mass measurements.

Findings

Partial ionization can reduce Q values to << 1 keV.

Low-Q decay modes are promising but require advanced isotope production and atomic calculations.

Ion storage and experimental feasibility pose significant challenges.

Abstract

We investigate weak nuclear decays with extremely small kinetic energy release (Q value) and thus extremely good sensitivity to the absolute neutrino mass scale. In particular, we consider decays into excited daughter states, and we show that partial ionization of the parent atom can help to tune Q values to << 1 keV. We discuss several candidate isotopes undergoing beta+, beta-, bound state beta, or electron capture decay, and come to the conclusion that a neutrino mass measurement using low-Q decays might only be feasible if no ionization is required, and if future improvements in isotope production technology, nuclear mass spectroscopy, and atomic structure calculations are possible. Experiments using ions, however, are extremely challenging due to the large number of ions that must be stored. New precision data on nuclear excitation levels could help to identify further isotopes with low-Q decay modes and possibly less challenging requirements.