Title:   Project 8 
Speaker: Benjamin Monreal, 
         University of California 

Abstract:  
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Project 8 

Neutrino masses should have a tiny, not-yet-detected effect on the
kinematics of tritium beta decay.  Today's best neutrino mass limit (m
< 2.0 eV) was obtained via very difficult spectroscopy of these
decays.  The KATRIN experiment will extend this to 0.2 eV, but with
little prospect of further improvement.  We are proposing a new
technique, called "Project 8", which takes an atomic-physics-like
approach with very different scaling issues and systematics.  Tritium
decay electrons can be stored in a magnetic field, where their
cyclotron motion emits detectable radio/microwave radiation.  I will
introduce the basic theory behind Project 8, and our efforts to
demonstrate single-electron microwave spectroscopy in the lab.  I will
also describe some of the challenges, particularly concerning the
magnet, that will need to be overcome for a future large tritium
experiment.