Consolidated Grant

Lead Research Organisation: King's College London
Department Name: Physics

Abstract

The aim of the Experimental Particle & Astroparticle Physics (EPAP) group is to address some of the
major open questions in our understanding of matter through the study of the nature of fundamental
particles. In particular, we aim to address many of the open questions in the neutrino sector. We
also continue to search for new physics, addressing phenomena including proton decay, ultra-light dark
matter and gravitational waves from astrophyiscal sources.

Through our long-standing involvement in the Japanese programme of experiments: T2K,
Super-Kamiokande and Hyper-Kamiokande, we work on precision neutrino oscillation measurements
combining both beam and atmospheric neutrino samples, aiming to ultimately understand the
contribution of leptonic CP violation towards explaining the matter-antimatter asymmetry of our
universe. To facilitate successful measurements, we are pursuing a detailed understanding of
relevant neutrino interaction cross-sections (in particular electron neutrino cross-sections),
detector response and systematic uncertainties. We also support these efforts by developing the
computing software infrastructure required to analyse the large data volumes and maintaining the
outer detector for Super-Kamiokande.

We also play an important role in the SNO+ experiment in Canada, which will collect its main data
to search for neutrino-less double beta decay, hence probing the nature and mass of the neutrino,
during this grant period. Our work will enable this and other key measurements (such as solar and
reactor neutrino spectra that further probe oscillation parameters) through analysis coordination
and a careful study of time correlated backgrounds and detector response.

Through IceCUBE we access the very high end of the neutrino energy spectrum, preparing and
searching for new physics within, the astrophysical neutrino sample, and placing limits on Lorentz
violation from atmospheric neutrino data.

Another goal of the group is the search for proton-decay, motivated by many unified theories,
combining extensive phenomenological expertise with our experimental experience in Super-K and
Hyper-K. Further new physics will be addressed through the Atomic Interferometer Observatory
Network (AION). Our contributions to the development of this series of UK-based quantum interferometer
detectors to explore ultra-light dark matter candidates and detect gravitational waves from
astrophysical sources, will involve detailed sensitivity studies to inform the design.

Publications

10 25 50

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Abe K (2022) Scintillator ageing of the T2K near detectors from 2010 to 2021 in Journal of Instrumentation

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Abe K (2022) First gadolinium loading to Super-Kamiokande in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

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Lees JP (2022) Search for Darkonium in e^{+}e^{-} Collisions. in Physical review letters

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Aguilar-Arevalo AA (2022) MiniBooNE and MicroBooNE Combined Fit to a 3+1 Sterile Neutrino Scenario. in Physical review letters

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Yano T. (2022) Prospects for neutrino astrophysics with Hyper-Kamiokande in Proceedings of Science

 
Title Invisible explorers: investigating subatomic particles in the classroom 
Description Digital and hardware cosmic muon trigger for schools 
Type Of Art Artistic/Creative Exhibition 
Year Produced 2024 
Impact Promoting STEM to girls before they choose their A level to increase their STEM intake. 
URL https://nms.kcl.ac.uk/jeanne.wilson/Outreach/
 
Title Particle Shrine 
Description Cosmic rays are high energy particles that shoot through space, colliding with molecules in the atmosphere and showering the Earth with other tiny particles such as muons and neutrinos. The installation takes live data from five cosmic ray detectors installed at Science Gallery and from the Super-Kamiokande neutrino observatory in Japan to transform these invisible particles into an audio-visual experience like no other. 
Type Of Art Artistic/Creative Exhibition 
Year Produced 2023 
Impact Knowledge transfer to the general public. 
 
Title Subatomic 
Description A project about the subatomic world of cosmic rays. The project combines scientific research with artistic performance to analyse and visualise these high energy particles from outer space. 
Type Of Art Performance (Music, Dance, Drama, etc) 
Year Produced 2022 
Impact General public is now aware of the existence of cosmic rays. 
URL https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/subatomic-kings-artists-project-explores-the-connection-between-art-and-a...
 
Description ERC Consolidator (2018, 2020, 2022, 2024)
Geographic Reach Europe 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
Impact We award about Euros 2M to about 12 applicants with the perspective that it is a high-risk high-impact project. Several Nobel prizes awardees got an EC grant as well. So, my contribution is in the choice of projects that can potentially strongly impact our future.
 
Description Member of LHC Experiments Committee
Geographic Reach Multiple continents/international 
Policy Influence Type Membership of a guideline committee
URL http://committees.web.cern.ch/Committees/lhcc/
 
Description Science Board STFC (2023, 2024)
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
 
Description MSCA- RISE JENNIFER2
Amount € 358,800 (EUR)
Funding ID EU Grant n.822070 
Organisation European Commission H2020 
Sector Public
Country Belgium
Start 03/2019 
End 03/2023
 
Description LZ 
Organisation Sanford Research
Country United States 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Main contributions to analysis, software and computing, background screening
Collaborator Contribution Main contributions to analysis, software and computing, background screening
Impact papers, quantum sensor work, work on XLZD
Start Year 2022
 
Description SNO+ 
Organisation Sudbury Neutrino Observatory
Country Canada 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Analysis, software and calibration
Collaborator Contribution Analysis, software and calibration
Impact papers
Start Year 2008
 
Description Super-Kamiokande 
Organisation Super-Kamiokande
Country Japan 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution We have joined in January 2016. We are working on a calibration system for neutron. We have taken shifts.
Collaborator Contribution Expertise in calibration. Detection of low background in gadolinium samples.
Impact This collaboration has just started
Start Year 2016
 
Description 20th conference on Flavor Physics and CP violation (FPCP 2022) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact I was in the organisation of the FPCP2022 conference.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://relativity.phy.olemiss.edu/fpcp2022/
 
Description Conference Organisation: NUFACT2022 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact I was in the organising committee of the conference.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.physics.utah.edu/nufact-2022/
 
Description International Symposium on Neutrino Physics and Beyond (NPB 2024) (19-21 February 2024) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Presenting current status of Hyper-Kamiokande
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://indico.ihep.ac.cn/event/20514/
 
Description Invited talks to KCL Maxwell Society 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact outreach to undergraduate students
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-I0-J3reBA
 
Description Monash University School of Physics and Astromony Colloquium (26 July 2023) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Discussing potential of Hyper-Kamiokande with Monash members
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.monash.edu/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/3396955/Colloquium-Poster-Francesca-Di-Lodovico.p...
 
Description Plenary invited talk at Lepton Photon 2022 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Advertising SNO+
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XU_L9xfHcg&list=PLCK1WqxQsFg5kC-q9wang5YKwPixmtzEU
 
Description Sixth Sydney-CPPC meeting (26-27 July 2023) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Discussion about the potential of Hyper-Kamiokande with members of Universities in Sydney (Australia)
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://indico.cern.ch/event/1288079/
 
Description Talk at the First Pan-African Astro-Particle and Collider Physics Workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Introducing your physicists in Africa to particle physics - I gave a talk on Hyper-K
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://indico.tlabs.ac.za/event/109/timetable/?print=1&view=standard
 
Description UK HEP Forum 2022: Neutrinos: What? Where from? Where to? 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Presentation of the latest results on T2K and Hyper-Kamiokande.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://conference.ippp.dur.ac.uk/event/1144/timetable/?view=standard_numbered
 
Description https://indico.cern.ch/event/1234324/ 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact International conference on neutrino physics
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://indico.cern.ch/event/1234324/