Speaker
Description
We discuss the possibility of table-top experiments to demonstrate the neutrino-induced torque on macroscopic matter. The proposed setup employs a small, ferromagnetic, e.g., ring-shaped, samples magnetically levitated above a superconductor and containing nuclei that undergo electron capture (EC) decay. At deep cryogenic temperatures, nuclear spin polarization of the EC-decaying nuclei enables controllably directional neutrino emission, giving rise to a detectable mechanical torque on the sample. We estimate the expected magnitude of the effect and discuss the key experimental requirements and challenges, including the choice of suitable EC isotopes, achievable polarization degrees, and sensitivity limitations. If realized, such an experiment would provide a rare direct demonstration of neutrino-matter angular momentum transfer at the macroscopic scale.