The award-winning work was presented in poster format and is part of the doctoral thesis that the researcher develops at the Institute of Corpuscular Physics (IFIC), located in the scientific-academic area of the University of Valencia Science Park (PCUV), under the supervision of Rebecca Gozzini and Alfonso García Soto, both researchers from IFIC’s VEGA (Valencia Experimental Group on Astroparticle Physics). "I have put a lot of work into preparing the poster to visualize the framework for my research and I am glad that this effort has been appreciated," says Nadja Lessing. "Having won the award is an added motivation to continue striving in the communication of my work".
The researcher’s research project focuses on finding possible quantum decoherence effects in neutrinos, a phenomenon that could originate from theories extending the Standard Model, such as certain quantum gravity scenarios. The study is carried out using the ARCA detector, part of the KM3NeT experiment, located at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea and which is optimized for the detection of high-energy neutrinos by observing Cherenkov light. Precisely, this study was published and highlighted by the prestigious journal Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics (JCAP) last April and has had a notable impact in international scientific media.
The Cherenkov radiation is an electromagnetic type radiation produced by the passage of electrically charged particles in a given medium at speeds higher than the speed of light in that medium, since the latter is unsurpassed in vacuum, but may be slower in other media. When a particle exceeds the speed of light in a given medium, we talk about light or Cherenkov radiation.
"Having won the prize is an added motivation to continue striving in communicating my work. I also take it as a sign that the questions we are trying to answer in our research group arouse interest in the scientific community", Nadja Lessing, IFIC pre-doctoral researcher
The analysis uses reconstructed atmospheric neutrino fluxes as track-type events, typically associated with a type of neutrinos called "muon neutrinos". Machine learning techniques, specifically optimized decision trees, are used to discriminate these events against the dominant background of atmospheric muons. The simulations allow to compare the expected evolution of the neutrino flux under the standard oscillation scheme with scenarios that include decoherence effects, showing characteristic differences that could constitute an observable signature of the phenomenon.
The PhD MAJORANA school is organized by the INFN (Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, located in Rome, Italy) and constitutes one of the most relevant advanced training meetings in the field of particle and nuclear physics. Aimed at PhD students from all over the world, the school combines master classes by international experts with practical sessions and scientific presentations by the students.
The award for best poster, sponsored by EPS, recognizes the scientific quality, clarity of presentation and potential impact of the work presented. "I also take this as a sign that the questions we are trying to answer in our research group arouse interest in the scientific community," concludes Lessing. This participation and recognition reflects the IFIC’s commitment to training young researchers and fostering emerging talent.
Source: IFIC