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Prospects for relic neutrino detection using nuclear spin experiments

Yeray Garcia del Castillo*, Giovanni Pierobon†, Dipan Sengupta‡, and Yvonne Y. Y. Wong§

  • *Contact author: y.garcia_del_castillo@unsw.edu.au
  • †Contact author: g.pierobon@unsw.edu.au
  • ‡Contact author: dipan.sengupta@unsw.edu.au
  • §Contact author: yvonne.y.wong@unsw.edu.au
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Phys. Rev. D 113, 043061 – Published 27 February, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/kgk5-bf5x

Abstract

Direct detection of the cosmic neutrino background (CνB) remains one of the most formidable experimental challenges in modern physics. In this work, we extend recent studies of CνB−induced coherent transitions in polarized nuclear spin ensembles. Adopting an open quantum system framework, we model coherent neutrino effects in large spin ensembles using a Lindblad master equation that also incorporates realistic experimental imperfections such as local dephasing and imperfect polarization. We solve the Lindblad equation numerically by way of a fast and computationally inexpensive method that can be extended to an arbitrarily large number of spins. Using our numerical solutions, we forecast the sensitivities of future experiments such as CASPEr to the local CνB overdensity parameter δν. Our findings indicate that a CASPEr-like experiment, though primarily aimed at axion dark matter search, could also constrain the CνB overdensity to δν∼1013 in configurations achievable by currently planned experimental efforts, and down to δν∼1011 in the most optimized scenario. While CνB detection remains out of reach in the foreseeable future, our results highlight the potential of using quantum sensing to probe fundamental physics.

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Corrections

9 April, 2026

Correction: An incorrect version of Fig. 7 was used for publication and has now been replaced with the correct version.

Article Text

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Phys. Rev. D 113, 043061– Published 27 February, 2026
  • Received 26 October 2025
  • Accepted 11 February 2026
  • Corrected 9 April 2026
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