Speaker
Description
We describe the first experimental demonstration of the beta momentum detectors for the proposed QuIPs experiment. The Quantum Invisible Particle Sensor (QuIPS) experiment, introduced at CPAD in 2024, is an optomechanical laser trap surrounded by active pixel detectors searching for heavy sterile neutrino masses in the 10s of keV to few MeV regime via weak nuclear decays. The experimental setup uses CMOS sensors to measure the direction of a beta particle emitted from a trapped nanosphere, and a plastic scintillator detector to reconstruct its energy. When combined with the momentum impulse imparted to the trapped nanosphere, the full momenta of the beta decay products may be reconstructed. This talk will present the proof-of-principle experimental demonstration of reconstruction beta momentum using two CMOS sensors and a scintillator in coincidence. The plans for deployment and operation of this custom beta detector in an optomechanical trap will also be discussed.
