Unraveling the Majorana mystery of neutrinos and anti-neutrinos——Cryogenic crystal bolometer technology for neutrinoless double beta decay experiments

The possible Majorana nature of neutrinos contains new physics far beyond the Standard Model and is a key scientific question at the frontiers of nuclear and particle physics. Experiments on the neutrinoless double beta decay (0vββ) are the only viable approach to determine this Majorana property, which will have a great impact on resolving outstanding puzzles of the neutrino absolute mass scale, violation of the lepton quantum number, and matter anti-matter asymmetry of the universe. As such, it has become a key subject of nuclear and particle physics research. Among possible technological approaches to 0vββ experiments, the cryogenic crystal bolometer has the advantages of superior energy resolution, operational stability and ultra-low radioactive background, and is one of the leading detector choices for next generation 0vββ experiments. We will first briefly review the history of the search for 0vββ, then describe the CUORE experiment as an example of advanced cryogenic bolometer technology. Finally, we will report on current experimental progress on the development of the cryogenic bolometer detector at China Jinping Laboratory, and its prospective application in 0vββ research.