Karlsruhe 2024 – scientific programme
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T: Fachverband Teilchenphysik
T 33: Neutrino physics 4
T 33.2: Talk
Tuesday, March 5, 2024, 16:15–16:30, Geb. 30.21: Gerthsen-HS
Reduction of Rydberg background in KATRIN by stimulated de-excitation using THz radiation — •Shivani Ramachandran, Enrico Ellinger, and Klaus Helbing — Bergische Universität Wuppertal (BUW)
The key requirement for the KArlsruhe TRItium Neutrino experiment (KATRIN) to reach its goal sensitivity of 200 meV at 90% (C.L.) in measuring the effective electron anti-neutrino mass is minimising the background which currently exceeds the estimated design value. In order to achieve this and eliminate some known contributors, several background suppression methods have already been implemented. The dominant contribution to the background in the measured signal are electrons produced by thermal ionization of Rydberg atoms. These atoms originate from the walls of the main spectrometer vessel by radioactive decays of a 210Pb contamination. THz radiation can be used for stimulated de-excitation inducing Δ n = 1 transitions, which can lead to shorter lifetimes of Rydberg atoms. Different species of excited atoms are sputtered from the walls of the vessel which can lead to two-electron excited states. The influence of THz radiation on such states are investigated. The development and measurements from the test setup built in University of Wuppertal (BUW), as a proof of principle for THz-induced de-excitation is discussed.
Keywords: KATRIN; Rydberg background; THz radiation