The microcalorimeter arrays for a Rhenium experiment (MARE):: A next-generation calorimetric neutrino mass experiment based on the study of 187Re β spectrum

Even if neutrino oscillation experiments have proved undoubtedly that neutrinos do have mass, the puzzle is still far from being solved. An important contribution to this quest for neutrino mass can come from the project microcalorimeter arrays for a Rhenium experiment (MARE) which has been proposed to measure the neutrino mass directly through observation of the Re-187 beta spectrum. Two experiments, MIBETA and MANU, are pooling their experience in this field with other groups to form an international collaboration to address the challenging goal of an experiment with 0.2 eV sensitivity. The present situation will be discussed here along with MARE's evolution and prospects. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.