The precision measurement of the tritium beta-decay spectrum performed by the KATRIN experiment provides a unique way to search for general neutrino interactions (GNIs). All theoretically allowed GNI terms at dimension 6 involving neutrinos are incorporated into a low-energy effective field theory, and can be identified by specific signatures in the measured tritium beta spectrum. In this Letter an effective description of the impact of GNIs on the beta spectrum is formulated and the first constraints on the effective GNI parameters are derived based on the 4 x 10(6) electrons collected in the second measurement campaign of KATRIN in 2019. In addition, constraints on selected types of interactions are investigated, thereby exploring the potential of KATRIN to search for more specific new physics cases, including a right-handed W boson, a charged Higgs boson, or leptoquarks.

Abstract The projected sensitivity of the effective electron neutrino-mass measurement with the KATRIN experiment is below 0.3 eV (90 % CL) after 5 years of data acquisition. The sensitivity is affected by the increased rate of the background electrons from KATRIN’s main spectrometer. A special shifted-analysing-plane (SAP) configuration was developed to reduce this background by a factor of two. The complex layout of electromagnetic fields in the SAP configuration requires a robust method of estimating these fields. We present in this paper a dedicated calibration measurement of the fields using conversion electrons of gaseous $$^\textrm{83m}$$ 83m Kr, which enables the neutrino-mass measurements in the SAP configuration.

Sterile neutrinos in the keV mass range present a viable candidate for dark matter. They can be detected through single β -decay, where they cause small spectral distortions. The Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino (KATRIN) experiment aims to search for keV-scale sterile neutrinos with high sensitivity. To achieve this, the KATRIN beamline will be equipped with a novel multi-pixel silicon drift detector focal plane array named TRISTAN. In this study, we present the performance of a TRISTAN detector module, a component of the eventual 9-module system. Our investigation encompasses spectroscopic aspects such as noise performance, energy resolution, linearity, and stability.

The fact that neutrinos carry a non-vanishing rest mass is evidence of physics beyond the Standard Model of elementary particles. Their absolute mass bears important relevance from particle physics to cosmology. In this work, we report on the search for the effective electron antineutrino mass with the KATRIN experiment. KATRIN performs precision spectroscopy of the tritium $\beta$-decay close to the kinematic endpoint. Based on the first five neutrino-mass measurement campaigns, we derive a best-fit value of $m_\nu^{2} = {-0.14^{+0.13}_{-0.15}}~\mathrm{eV^2}$, resulting in an upper limit of $m_\nu < {0.45}~\mathrm{eV}$ at 90 % confidence level. With six times the statistics of previous data sets, amounting to 36 million electrons collected in 259 measurement days, a substantial reduction of the background level and improved systematic uncertainties, this result tightens KATRIN's previous bound by a factor of almost two.

Radioactive sources of the monoenergetic low-energy conversion electrons from the decay of isomeric $^{83m}Kr$ are frequently used in the systematic measurements, particularly in the neutrino mass and dark matter experiments. For this purpose, the isomer is obtained by the decay of its parent radionuclide $^{83}Rb$. In order to get more precise data on the gamma-rays occuring in the $^{83}Rb$/$^{83m}Kr$ chain, we re-measured the relevant gamma-ray spectra, because the previous measurement took place in 1976. The obtained intensities are in fair agreement with this previous measurement. We have, however, improved the uncertainties by a factor of 4.3, identified a new gamma transition and determined more precisely energies of weaker gamma transitions.

In this work we present a keV-scale sterile-neutrino search with a low-tritium-activity data set of the KATRIN experiment, acquired in a commissioning run in 2018. KATRIN performs a spectroscopic measurement of the tritium -decay spectrum with the main goal of directly determining the effective electron anti-neutrino mass. During this commissioning phase a lower tritium activity facilitated the measurement of a wider part of the tritium spectrum and thus the search for sterile neutrinos with a mass of up to 1.6 keV . We do not find a signal and set an exclusion limit on the sterile-to-active mixing amplitude of sin ^2θ < 5× 10^-4 ( 95% C.L.) at a mass of 0.3 keV. This result improves current laboratory-based bounds in the sterile-neutrino mass range between 0.1 and 1.0 keV.

Radioactive sources of the monoenergetic low-energy conversion electrons from the decay of isomeric ^83mKr are frequently used in the systematic measurements, particularly in the neutrino mass and dark matter experiments. For this purpose, the isomer is obtained by the decay of its parent radionuclide ^83Rb . In order to get more precise data on the gamma-rays occuring in the ^83Rb / ^83mKr chain, we re-measured the relevant gamma-ray spectra, because the previous measurement took place in 1976. The obtained intensities are in fair agreement with the previous measurement. We have, however, improved the uncertainties by a factor of 4.3, identified a new gamma transition and determined more precisely energies of weaker gamma transitions.

An energy value of 9406.3(5) eV was determined for the 9.4 keV (M1+E2) nuclear transition in 83Kr by the internal conversion electron spectrometry method. This value agrees within 1σ with the most precise values determined previously for which their weighted mean amounts to 9405.9(2) eV. A value of 22745.3(2) eV was obtained directly from our experimental data for the energy difference between the 32.1 keV and 9.4 keV transitions in 83Kr. Electron binding energies (related to the Fermi level) on the K, L, and M1,2,3 subshells of Kr implanted into a polycrystalline Pt matrix were also derived. They were found to be lower by weighted mean values of 11.6(4) and 1.7(6) eV compared to those for free Kr atoms and for Kr in an evaporated 83Rb layer on Al backing, respectively, and higher by a weighted mean value of 2.9(2) eV than the binding energies in Kr in an evaporated layer on polycrystalline Pt backing.

Some extensions of the Standard Model of Particle Physics allow for Lorentz invariance and Charge-Parity-Time (CPT)-invariance violations. In the neutrino sector strong constraints have been set by neutrino-oscillation and time-of-flight experiments. However, some Lorentz-invariance-violating parameters are not accessible via these probes. In this work, we focus on the parameters $(a_{\text{of}}^{(3)})_{00}$, $(a_{\text{of}}^{(3)})_{10}$ and $(a_{\text{of}}^{(3)})_{11}$ which would manifest themselves in a non-isotropic beta-decaying source as a sidereal oscillation and an overall shift of the spectral endpoint. Based on the data of the first scientific run of the KATRIN experiment, we set the first limit on $\left|(a_{\text{of}}^{(3)})_{11}\right|$ of $<3.7\cdot10^{-6}$ GeV at 90\% confidence level. Moreover, we derive new constraints on $(a_{\text{of}}^{(3)})_{00}$ and $(a_{\text{of}}^{(3)})_{10}$.

The Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino (KATRIN) experiment is designed to measure a high-precision integral spectrum of the endpoint region of T-2 beta decay, with the primary goal of probing the absolute mass scale of the neutrino. After a first tritium commissioning campaign in 2018, the experiment has been regularly running since 2019, and in its first two measurement campaigns has already achieved a sub-eV sensitivity. After 1000 days of data-taking, KATRIN's design sensitivity is 0.2 eV at the 90% confidence level. In this white paper we describe the current status of KATRIN; explore prospects for measuring the neutrino mass and other physics observables, including sterile neutrinos and other beyond-Standard-Model hypotheses; and discuss research-and-development projects that may further improve the KATRIN sensitivity.

We present the results of the light sterile neutrino search from the second Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino (KATRIN) measurement campaign in 2019. Approaching nominal activity, 3.76 x 10(6) tritium ss-electrons are analyzed in an energy window extending down to 40 eV below the tritium end point at E-0 = 18.57 keV. We consider the 3 nu + 1 framework with three active and one sterile neutrino flavors. The analysis is sensitive to a fourth mass eigenstate m(4)(2) less than or similar to 1600 eV(2) and active-to-sterile mixing |U-e4|(2) greater than or similar to 6 x 10(-3). As no sterile-neutrino signal was observed, we provide improved exclusion contours on m(4)(2) and |U-e4|(2) at 95% C.L. Our results supersede the limits from the Mainz and Troitsk experiments. Furthermore, we are able to exclude the large Delta m(41)(2) solutions of the reactor antineutrino and gallium anomalies to a great extent. The latter has recently been reaffirmed by the BEST Collaboration and could be explained by a sterile neutrino with large mixing. While the remaining solutions at small Delta m(41)(2) are mostly excluded by short-baseline reactor experiments, KATRIN is the only ongoing laboratory experiment to be sensitive to relevant solutions at large Delta m(41)(2) through a robust spectral shape analysis.

We report on the direct search for cosmic relic neutrinos using data acquired during the first two science campaigns of the KATRIN experiment in 2019. Beta-decay electrons from a high-purity molecular tritium gas source are analyzed by a high-resolution MAC-E filter around the end point at 18.57 keV. The analysis is sensitive to a local relic neutrino overdensity ratio of η<9.7×10^{10}/α (1.1×10^{11}/α) at a 90% (95%) confidence level with α=1 (0.5) for Majorana (Dirac) neutrinos. A fit of the integrated electron spectrum over a narrow interval around the end point accounting for relic neutrino captures in the tritium source reveals no significant overdensity. This work improves the results obtained by the previous neutrino mass experiments at Los Alamos and Troitsk. We furthermore update the projected final sensitivity of the KATRIN experiment to η<1×10^{10}/α at 90% confidence level, by relying on updated operational conditions.

Author(s): Aker, M; Altenmuller, K; Beglarian, A; Behrens, J; Berlev, A; Besserer, U; Bieringer, B; Blaum, K; Block, F; Bornschein, B; Bornschein, L; Bottcher, M; Brunst, T; Caldwell, TS; La Cascio, L; Chilingaryan, S; Choi, W; Diaz Barrero, D; Debowski, K; Deffert, M; Descher, M; Doe, PJ; Dragoun, O; Drexlin, G; Dyba, S; Edzards, F; Eitel, K; Ellinger, E; Engel, R; Enomoto, S; Fedkevych, M; Felden, A; Formaggio, JA; Frankle, FM; Franklin, GB; Friedel, F; Fulst, A; Gauda, K; Gil, W; Gluck, F; Grossle, R; Gumbsheimer, R; Hohn, T; Hannen, V; Hausmann, N; Helbing, K; Hickford, S; Hiller, R; Hillesheimer, D; Hinz, D; Houdy, T; Huber, A; Jansen, A; Kollenberger, L; Karl, C; Kellerer, J; Kippenbrock, L; Klein, M; Kopmann, A; Korzeczek, M; Kovalik, A; Krasch, B; Krause, H; Lasserre, T; Le, TL; Lebeda, O; Lehnert, B; Lokhov, A; Lopez Poyato, JM; Muller, K; Machatschek, M; Malcherek, E; Mark, M; Marsteller, A; Martin, EL; Melzer, C; Mertens, S; Niemes, S; Oelpmann, P; Osipowicz, A; Parno, DS; Poon, AWP; Priester, F; Rollig, M; Rottele, C | Abstract: We report on the dataset, data handling, and detailed analysis techniques of the first neutrino-mass measurement by the Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino (KATRIN) experiment, which probes the absolute neutrino-mass scale via the β-decay kinematics of molecular tritium. The source is highly pure, cryogenic T2 gas. The β electrons are guided along magnetic field lines toward a high-resolution, integrating spectrometer for energy analysis. A silicon detector counts β electrons above the energy threshold of the spectrometer, so that a scan of the thresholds produces a precise measurement of the high-energy spectral tail. After detailed theoretical studies, simulations, and commissioning measurements, extending from the molecular final-state distribution to inelastic scattering in the source to subtleties of the electromagnetic fields, our independent, blind analyses allow us to set an upper limit of 1.1 eV on the neutrino-mass scale at a 90% confidence level. This first result, based on a few weeks of running at a reduced source intensity and dominated by statistical uncertainty, improves on prior limits by nearly a factor of two. This result establishes an analysis framework for future KATRIN measurements, and provides important input to both particle theory and cosmology.

We report on the light sterile neutrino search from the first four-week science run of the KATRIN experiment in 2019. Beta-decay electrons from a high-purity gaseous molecular tritium source are analyzed by a high-resolution MAC-E filter down to 40 eV below the endpoint at 18.57 keV. We consider the framework with three active neutrinos and one sterile neutrino. The analysis is sensitive to the mass, m_{4}, of the fourth mass state for m_{4}^{2}≲1000  eV^{2} and to active-to-sterile neutrino mixing down to |U_{e4}|^{2}≳2×10^{-2}. No significant spectral distortion is observed and exclusion bounds on the sterile mass and mixing are reported. These new limits supersede the Mainz results for m_{4}^{2}≲1000  eV^{2} and improve the Troitsk bound for m_{4}^{2}<30  eV^{2}. The reactor and gallium anomalies are constrained for 100<Δm_{41}^{2}<1000  eV^{2}.

The KArlsruhe TRItium Neutrino (KATRIN) experiment, which aims to make a direct and model-independent determination of the absolute neutrino mass scale, is a complex experiment with many components. More than 15 years ago, we published a technical design report (TDR) [1] to describe the hardware design and requirements to achieve our sensitivity goal of 0.2 eV at 90% C.L. on the neutrino mass. Since then there has been considerable progress, culminating in the publication of first neutrino mass results with the entire beamline operating [2]. In this paper, we document the current state of all completed beamline components (as of the first neutrino mass measurement campaign), demonstrate our ability to reliably and stably control them over long times, and present details on their respective commissioning campaigns.

AbstractThe KATRIN experiment is designed for a direct and model-independent determination of the effective electron anti-neutrino mass via a high-precision measurement of the tritium $$\upbeta $$ β -decay endpoint region with a sensitivity on $$m_\nu $$ m ν of 0.2 $$\hbox {eV}/\hbox {c}^2$$ eV / c 2 (90% CL). For this purpose, the $$\upbeta $$ β -electrons from a high-luminosity windowless gaseous tritium source traversing an electrostatic retarding spectrometer are counted to obtain an integral spectrum around the endpoint energy of 18.6 keV. A dominant systematic effect of the response of the experimental setup is the energy loss of $$\upbeta $$ β -electrons from elastic and inelastic scattering off tritium molecules within the source. We determined the energy-loss function in-situ with a pulsed angular-selective and monoenergetic photoelectron source at various tritium-source densities. The data was recorded in integral and differential modes; the latter was achieved by using a novel time-of-flight technique. We developed a semi-empirical parametrization for the energy-loss function for the scattering of 18.6-keV electrons from hydrogen isotopologs. This model was fit to measurement data with a 95% $$\hbox {T}_2$$ T 2 gas mixture at 30 K, as used in the first KATRIN neutrino-mass analyses, as well as a $$\hbox {D}_2$$ D 2 gas mixture of 96% purity used in KATRIN commissioning runs. The achieved precision on the energy-loss function has abated the corresponding uncertainty of $$\sigma (m_\nu ^2)< {{10}^{-2}}{\hbox {eV}^{2}}$$ σ ( m ν 2 ) < 10 - 2 eV 2 [1] in the KATRIN neutrino-mass measurement to a subdominant level.

Short-lived isomer 83mKr with its discrete electron spectrum has ideal properties to be used in the crucial role of calibration source in low energy experiments like KATRIN or XENON. To ensure smooth long-term operation of these experiments, reliable routines for production of 83Rb, which decays to 83mKr, have to be developed. We describe the methods developed at the Nuclear Physics Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences at Rez, where 83Rb sources are created for KATRIN predominantly via the reaction 84Kr(p,2n)83Rb by colliding accelerated protons with a target filled with natural krypton gas.

We report the results of the second measurement campaign of the Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino (KATRIN) experiment. KATRIN probes the effective electron anti-neutrino mass, m ν , via a high-precision measurement of the tritium β-decay spectrum close to its endpoint at 18.6 keV. In the second physics run presented here, the source activity was increased by a factor of 3.8 and the background was reduced by 25% with respect to the first campaign. A sensitivity on m ν of 0.7 eV/c 2 at 90% confidence level (CL) was reached. This is the first sub-eV sensitivity from a direct neutrino-mass experiment. The best fit to the spectral data yields m ν 2 =(0.26±0.34) eV 2 /c 4 , resulting in an upper limit of m ν <0.9 eV/c 2 (90% CL). By combining this result with the first neutrino mass campaign, we find an upper limit of m ν <0.8 eV/c 2 (90% CL).

Sterile neutrinos are a minimal extension of the Standard Model of Particle Physics. A promising model-independent way to search for sterile neutrinos is via high-precision beta spectroscopy. The Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino (KATRIN) experiment, equipped with a novel multi-pixel silicon drift detector focal plane array and read-out system, named the TRISTAN detector, has the potential to supersede the sensitivity of previous laboratory-based searches. In this work we present the characterization of the first silicon drift detector prototypes with electrons and we investigate the impact of uncertainties of the detector's response to electrons on the final sterile neutrino sensitivity.

The Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino (KATRIN) experiment aims at measuring the effective electron neutrino mass with a sensitivity of 0.2 eV/c2, i.e., improving on previous measurements by an order of magnitude. Neutrino mass data taking with KATRIN commenced in early 2019, and after only a few weeks of data recording, analysis of these data showed the success of KATRIN, improving on the known neutrino mass limit by a factor of about two. This success very much could be ascribed to the fact that most of the system components met, or even surpassed, the required specifications during long-term operation. Here, we report on the performance of the laser Raman (LARA) monitoring system which provides continuous high-precision information on the gas composition injected into the experiment’s windowless gaseous tritium source (WGTS), specifically on its isotopic purity of tritium—one of the key parameters required in the derivation of the electron neutrino mass. The concentrations cx for all six hydrogen isotopologues were monitored simultaneously, with a measurement precision for individual components of the order 10−3 or better throughout the complete KATRIN data taking campaigns to date. From these, the tritium purity, εT, is derived with precision of <10−3 and trueness of <3 × 10−3, being within and surpassing the actual requirements for KATRIN, respectively.