Volume 307 - XVII International Workshop on Neutrino Telescopes (NEUTEL2017) - Session vii - convener: flavio gatti – double beta decays (1)
Project 8: Towards a Direct Measurement of the Neutrino Mass with Tritium Beta Decays
N. Oblath* On behalf of the Project 8 Collaboration
*corresponding author
Full text: pdf
Pre-published on: 2018 March 28
Published on: 2018 April 05
Abstract
Cyclotron Radiation Emission Spectroscopy, a frequency-based method for determining the energy of relativistic electrons, has recently been demonstrated by the Project 8 collaboration. Applying this technique to the tritium endpoint provides a new avenue for measuring the absolute mass-scale of the neutrino. The proof of principle was done in a small waveguide detector using gaseous $^{83\mathrm{m}}$Kr as a source of monoenergetic electrons. As the next step towards a neutrino mass measurement, we are upgrading the existing detector to operate using a molecular tritium source and to have enhanced radiofrequency properties. These upgrades are the next research and development steps needed to design a larger scale experiment that will approach the existing neutrino mass limits. I will discuss the expected physics reach of this second phase of Project 8 with molecular tritium, based on data from its commissioning with $^{83\mathrm{m}}$Kr. I will also present the concept for Phases III and IV, which will have a neutrino mass sensitivity similar to current limits from the Mainz and Troitsk experiments.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22323/1.307.0026
Open Access