# Characterization and Optimization of the KATRIN Tritium Source

Marsteller, Alexander Curt

##### Abstract (englisch):
The Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino (KATRIN) experiment aims to measure the effective electron anti-neutrino mass via high-precision spectroscopy of the energy spectrum of $\beta$-decay electrons of tritium near the 18.6 keV endpoint with an unprecedented accuracy.
The specifications of the KATRIN experiment result in an experimental setup with a target discovery potential of 5 $\sigma$ for a neutrino mass of 350 meV/c$^{-2}$ and the expected capability to push the upper limit on the neutrino mass down to a target of 200 meV/c$^{-2}$ (90 % C. L.) if no neutrino mass signal is detected.
To achieve this unprecedented sensitivity, both statistical and systematical uncertainties have to be stringently minimized.
The reduction of statistical uncertainties requires a total measurement duration of 3 years with a windowless gaseous tritium source (WGTS) capable of producing $10^{11}$ $\beta$-electrons per second.
To keep the systematical uncertainties at the level required to reach the target sensitivity, the activity of this $\beta$-electron source needs to be stable at the level of 0.1%.
This stability is influenced by several factors such as the purity and pressure of the tritium gas, as well as the temperature of the WGTS beam tube enclosing the gaseous tritium. ... mehr

 Zugehörige Institution(en) am KIT Institut für Astroteilchenphysik (IAP) Publikationstyp Hochschulschrift Publikationsdatum 15.12.2020 Sprache Englisch Identifikator KITopen-ID: 1000127553 Verlag Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT) Umfang IX, 182 S. Art der Arbeit Dissertation Fakultät Fakultät für Physik (PHYSIK) Institut Institut für Astroteilchenphysik (IAP) Prüfungsdatum 04.12.2020 Referent/Betreuer Prof. G. Drexlin Schlagwörter Column Density, Injection Stabilization, KATRIN, Gas Dynamics
KIT – Die Forschungsuniversität in der Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft
KITopen Landing Page