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Ultra-stable implanted Rb-83/Kr-83m electron sources for the energy scale monitoring in the KATRIN experiment

Author
Zbořil M. Institute of Nuclear Physics, University of Munster
Bauer S. Institute of Nuclear Physics, University of Munster
Beck M. Institute of Nuclear Physics, University of Munster
Bonn J. Institute of Physics, University of Mainz
Dragoun Otokar, Ing. DrSc.  Nuclear Physics Institute of the ASCR
Jakůbek J. Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics CTU
Johnston K. CERN
Kovalík Alojz, Ing. DrSc. Nuclear Physics Institute of the ASCR, JINR Dubna
Otten E.W. Institute of Physics, University of Mainz
Schlosser K. Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe
Slezák M. Nuclear Physics Institute of the ASCR
Špalek Antonín, Ing.CSc. Nuclear Physics Institute of the ASCR
Thummler T. Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe
Vénos Drahoslav, Mgr. CSc. Nuclear Physics Institute of the ASCR
Žemlička J. Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics CTU
Weinheimer Ch. Institute of Nuclear Physics, University of Munster

Year
2013

Scientific journal
Journal of Instrumentation, 8, P03009

Web


Abstract
The KATRIN experiment aims at the direct model-independent determination of the average electron neutrino mass via the measurement of the endpoint region of the tritium beta decay spectrum. The electron spectrometer of the MAC-E filter type is used, requiring very high stability of the electric filtering potential. This work proves the feasibility of implanted Rb-83/Kr-83m calibration electron sources which will be utilised in the additional monitor spectrometer sharing the high voltage with the main spectrometer of KATRIN. The source employs conversion electrons of Kr-83m which is continuously generated by Rb-83. The K-32 conversion line (kinetic energy of 17.8 keV, natural line width of 2.7 eV) is shown to fulfill the KATRIN requirement of the relative energy stability of +/- 1.6 ppm/month. The sources will serve as a standard tool for continuous monitoring of KATRIN's energy scale stability with sub-ppm precision. They may also be used in other applications where the precise conversion lines can be separated from the low energy spectrum caused by the electron inelastic scattering in the substrate.

Cite article as:
M. Zbořil, S. Bauer, M. Beck, J. Bonn, O. Dragoun, J. Jakůbek, K. Johnston, A. Kovalík, E. Otten, K. Schlosser, M. Slezák, A. Špalek, T. Thummler, D. Vénos, J. Žemlička, C. Weinheimer, "Ultra-stable implanted Rb-83/Kr-83m electron sources for the energy scale monitoring in the KATRIN experiment", Journal of Instrumentation, 8, P03009 (2013)