Abstract The neutrino mass experiment KATRIN requires a stability of 3 ppm for the retarding potential at − 18.6 kV of the main spectrometer. To monitor the stability, two custom-made ultra-precise ...high-voltage dividers were developed and built in cooperation with the German national metrology institute Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB). Until now, regular absolute calibration of the voltage dividers required bringing the equipment to the specialised metrology laboratory. Here we present a new method based on measuring the energy difference of two $$^{83{\mathrm{m}}}$$ 83m Kr conversion electron lines with the KATRIN setup, which was demonstrated during KATRIN’s commissioning measurements in July 2017. The measured scale factor $$M=1972.449(10)$$ M=1972.449(10) of the high-voltage divider K35 is in agreement with the last PTB calibration 4 years ago. This result demonstrates the utility of the calibration method, as well as the long-term stability of the voltage divider.
The KArlsruhe TRItium Neutrino experiment (KATRIN) aims to measure the absolute neutrino mass scale with an unprecedented sensitivity of 0.2 eV/c2 (90% C.L.), using beta decay electrons from tritium ...decay. The kinetic energy of the decay electrons is measured using an electrostatic integrating main spectrometer (MS) with magnetic adiabatic collimation and requires a certain magnetic field profile. For the control of the magnetic field in the MS area two networks of mobile magnetic field sensor units are developed and commissioned. The radial system is operated close to the outer surface of the MS whereas the vertical one is mounted along vertical planes left and right of the MS. The sensor setup can take several thousands magnetic field samples at a fine meshed grid, thus allowing to study the magnetic field inside the MS and the influence of magnetic materials in the vicinity of the main spectrometer.
The determination of the neutrino mass is one of the major challenges in astroparticle physics today. Direct neutrino mass experiments, based solely on the kinematics of beta-decay, provide a largely ...model-independent probe to the neutrino mass scale. The Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino (KATRIN) experiment is designed to directly measure the effective electron antineutrino mass with a sensitivity of 0.2 eV 90% CL. In this work we report on the first operation of KATRIN with tritium which took place in 2018. During this commissioning phase of the tritium circulation system, excellent agreement of the theoretical prediction with the recorded spectra was found and stable conditions over a time period of 13 days could be established. These results are an essential prerequisite for the subsequent neutrino mass measurements with KATRIN in 2019.
The KArlsruhe TRItium Neutrino experiment (KATRIN) aims to measure the electron neutrino mass with an unprecedented sensitivity of 0.2 eV/c2, using b decay electrons from tritium decay. For the ...control of magnetic field in the main spectrometer area of the KATRIN experiment a mobile magnetic sensor unit is constructed and tested at the KATRIN main spectrometer site. The unit moves on inner rails of the support structures of the low field shaping coils which are arranged along the the main spectrometer. The unit propagates on a caterpillar drive and contains an electro motor, battery pack, board electronics, 2 triaxial flux gate sensors and 2 inclination senors. During operation all relevant data are stored on board and transmitted to the master station after the docking station is reached.
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