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Muon-induced background in the KATRIN main spectrometer

Author
Arenz M. University of Bonn, Germany
Kovalík Alojz, Ing. DrSc. Nuclear Physics Institute of the ASCR, JINR Dubna
Ryšavý  Miloš, RNDr. CSc.  Nuclear Physics Institute of the ASCR
Sentkerestiová  Jana , Ing. Ph.D. Nuclear Physics Institute of the ASCR
Vénos Drahoslav, Mgr. CSc. Nuclear Physics Institute of the ASCR
et al.  different institutions

Year
2019

Scientific journal
ASTROPARTICLE PHYSICS 108 40-49

Web


Abstract
The KArlsruhe TRItium Neutrino (KATRIN) experiment aims to make a model-independent determination of the effective electron antineutrino mass with a sensitivity of 0.2 eV/c(2). It investigates the kinematics of beta-particles from tritium beta-decay close to the endpoint of the energy spectrum. Because the KATRIN main spectrometer (MS) is located above ground, muon-induced backgrounds are of particular concern. Coincidence measurements with the MS and a scintillator-based muon detector system confirmed the model of secondary electron production by cosmic-ray muons inside the MS. Correlation measurements with the same setup showed that about 12% of secondary electrons emitted from the inner surface are induced by cosmic-ray muons, with approximately one secondary electron produced for every 17 muon crossings. However, the magnetic and electrostatic shielding of the MS is able to efficiently suppress these electrons, and we find that muons are responsible for less than 17% (90% confidence level) of the overall MS background. (C) 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Cite article as:
M. Arenz, A. Kovalík, M. Ryšavý , J. Sentkerestiová , D. Vénos, . et al., "Muon-induced background in the KATRIN main spectrometer", ASTROPARTICLE PHYSICS 108 40-49 (2019)