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Description
SuperNEMO is searching for the hypothesised lepton-number-violating process, neutrinoless double-beta decay. Our tracker-calorimeter architecture gives us a unique capability to track the trajectories and energies of individual particles. This is a vital tool for background rejection, but also opens up possibilities unavailable to other experiments, through our ability to perform detailed studies of the Standard Model double-beta decay process, 2vbb, which produces two electrons, sometimes accompanied by photons. By studying the individual electrons' and photons' energy distributions, and the angles between the particles' trajectories, SuperNEMO will be able to investigate nuclear effects in the 2vbb process. For example, we can study decays to excited nuclear states, and provide constraints on the axial coupling constant, g_A. We can also look for beyond-the-Standard-Model effects, such as exotic 0vbb modes and Lorentz-violating decays.
The SuperNEMO Demonstrator has now been installed at LSM, France and is taking data with the full tracker and calorimeter from its double-beta source, which consists of 6.3kg of Se-82. We are currently calibrating the detector using our automatic Bi-207 source deployment system, as well as taking vital background data that will help us to isolate our future signal samples. Meanwhile, we are installing a multi-layer shielding system that will enable us begin taking our main body of double-beta decay data later this year. In this talk, I'll explain a bit about neutrinoless double-beta decay and the UK programme to search for it. I'll also introduce you to SuperNEMO and our exciting progress to date.
