Bonn 2020 – scientific programme

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T: Fachverband Teilchenphysik

T 56: Experimental methods III

T 56.1: Talk

Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 16:30–16:45, H-ÜR 1

Background reduction in KATRIN by induced de-excitation of Rydberg atoms with terahertz radiation — •Enrico Ellinger for the KATRIN collaboration — Bergische Universität Wuppertal

A major background in the neutrino mass experiment KATRIN is supposed to originate from the ionization of Rydberg atoms within the main spectrometer (MS) volume. In Rydberg atoms one or more electrons have a high principal quantum number n resulting in a large orbital radius and long decay periods in the ms range. Once produced in radioactive processes in the surface of the MS vessel wall the neutral Rydberg atoms can travel through the whole MS before they get ionized by thermal radiation and finally accelerated towards the main detector producing the background. Terahertz radiation can be used to stimulate Δn=± 1 transitions to states from where spontaneous de-excitation to ground state is faster (µs range). This approach was pioneered by the anti-hydrogen community at CERN. However, due to the very different environment in comparison to atomic trap experiments the feasibility at KATRIN must be examined. This study is presented as well as the first draft of an experimental set-up for testing this new method.