Investigation of quantum effects with atomic simulators in the T2K and Hyper-Kamiokande neutrino experiments (NEAT – Neutrino with atoms)

Neutrino physics has gained significant relevance due to the numerous important measurements currently being carried out and that will be performed in the coming years. In particular, the study of neutrino oscillations [1,2] and the determination of important neutrino properties are fundamental goals of the T2K and Hyper-Kamiokande experiments.

Neutrino oscillations are purely quantum phenomena with a very attractive window to study them in atomic quantum simulators. Systems like ultracold atoms in optical lattices [3] can be used both as analogue quantum computers used as a platform to engineer synthetic materials. We will consider artificial Dirac materials built of fermionic atoms that, similarly to graphene, host relativistic quasi-particles that behave like neutrinos, whose flavors correspond to atoms’ internal states [4].

With these quantum simulators, we can study decoherence phenomena in neutrino oscillations. We will use these artificial quantum systems as playground to evaluate sensitivity to theories beyond the Standard Model. Finally, we will investigate higher-order quantum correlations, which have not been considered until now in neutrino experiments, to characterize neutrino oscillations.

[1] “Measurement of atmospheric neutrino oscillation parameters by Super-Kamiokande I”, Phys. Rev. D 71, 112005 (2005).
[2] “Measurements of neutrino oscillation parameters from the T2K experiment using 3.6×1021 protons on target”, Eur. Phys. J. C No. (2023) 83:782.
[3] “Ultracold Atoms in Optical Lattices: Simulating quantum many-body systems”, Oxford University press, 2012.
[4] “Tunable multiple layered Dirac cones in optical lattices”, Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 253001 (2011).

Master in one of these areas:

• Nanoscience and Nanotechnology.
• High Energy Physics, Astrophysics and Cosmology.
• Photonics.
• Quantum Science and Technology.

Pilar Casado is a member of SGR 2021 00896. She is currently co-PI of the IFAE Neutrino Group. The IFAE Neutrino group is one of the founding members of the T2K experiment. The group contributed to the design and construction of ND280 and played an important role in the R&D related to the readout of the TPCs. NowAdays the group has important responsibilities in T2K and Hyper-Kamiokande. Two PhD students are involved in data analysis with T2K data.

Also, transfer of technology is carried out with an Industrial PhD.

Alessandro Celi is a member of the SGR 2021 00138 (Òptica). He works on simulators at the interface between condensed-matter and high-energy physics. He currently supervises 3 PhD students and one postdoc, and tutorizes an Industrial PhD on quantum sensing with ultracold atoms (IDEAD). The Optics group currently involves other two senior members and 3 lectors, active in polarimetry (experimental), quantum communication (experimental), and quantum computation and atomtronics (theory).