Quantum Sensing of Neutrinos (QuSeN)

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting proposals for new, high sensitivity neutrino detectors. Proposed research should investigate innovative approaches that enable revolutionary advances in neutrino detection science, devices and systems. The Quantum Sensing of Neutrinos (QuSeN) program aims to develop neutrino detectors with greatly increased performance for detection of neutrinos from sources such as nuclear reactors and nuclear materials.

Detectors will make use of neutrino – matter interactions that produce low energy nuclear recoils and athermal phonons in absorber materials with high neutron numbers at the (multi)-kilogram scale. Specifically excluded is research that primarily results in evolutionary improvements to the existing state of practice.