The Cryogenic Pumping Section of the KATRIN Experiment - Design Studies and Experiments for the Commissioning

The aim of the Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino (KATRIN) experiment is the determination of the neutrino mass with a sensitivity of 200 meV/c2 (90 %C.L.), by high precision tritium beta spectroscopy. The experimental setup requires ultra-high vacuum conditions. This thesis investigates the pumping properties of one of the key components namely the cryogenic pumping section. It focuses on the pumping with argon frost, the preparation of an active argon frost layer, as well as on NEG pumping.