The scientist searching for neutrinos to understand the universe
Juan José Gómez Cadenas is an Ikerbasque Research Professor at the DIPC and director of the NEXT experiment at the Canfranc Underground Laboratory. His research focuses on particle and astroparticle physics, neutrino physics and nuclear instrumentation. His work explores some of the fundamental questions surrounding the nature of neutrinos and the laws that govern matter at the subatomic scale.
One of the main focuses of his research is the search for neutrinoless double-beta decay, a process whose observation would demonstrate that the neutrino is its own antiparticle and provide evidence of new physics beyond the Standard Model.
The NEXT project combines fundamental physics, advanced detection technologies and nuclear instrumentation. The experiment is designed to detect extremely weak signals and distinguish them from background radiation produced by natural radioactivity. To achieve this, it uses advanced xenon-based detection techniques designed to reach unprecedented sensitivity. Experiments of this kind make it possible to study the properties of neutrinos and explore questions related to the origin of the asymmetry between matter and antimatter in the universe.
Career and recognitions
Throughout his career, Gómez Cadenas has worked at international institutions including the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, the Santa Cruz Institute for Particle Physics, CERN, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Harvard University, the University of Geneva and KEK. He has also been a professor at the University of Valencia and a researcher at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC).
In 2016, he received the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics as a member of the K2K and T2K collaborations. That same year, he was selected to join the Spanish Science Team, an initiative by QUO magazine and the CSIC recognizing outstanding Spanish scientists. He has also received two prestigious European Research Council (ERC) grants: an Advanced Grant and a Synergy Grant.
In addition to his scientific work, Gómez Cadenas has pursued a career as a writer and science communicator. He has published five novels, two popular science essays and a book of poetry. He also directs the science section of the online magazine Jot Down.
