A high-luminosity, high-resolution study of the end-point behaviour of the tritium beta-spectrum (i). basic experimental procedure and analysis with regard to neutrino mass and neutrino degeneracy
197254 pages
Published in:
- Nucl.Phys.B 39 (1972) 317-370
- Published: 1972
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Abstract: (Elsevier)
An experimental investigation of the end-point region of the tritium β-spectrum is described. The data obtained are analyzed with regard to their implications with respect to neutrino mass and neutrino degeneracy. By employing combined electrostatic-magnetic β-spectroscopic methods, a gain of about three orders of magnitude has been achieved with regard to basic intensity conditions. By combining this with attention to the production of a high-quality source and to the control of the background, it has become possible to study the tritium spectrum considerably closer to the end-point than previously feasible. A number of precautions have been taken to ensure an analysis free from systematic errors. At a 90% confidence level, upper limits of 55–60 eV can be set on the electron-neutrino mass and on the Fermi-energy of a universal neutrino or anti-neutrino degeneracy. No evidence for actually finite values of these parameters is found. The new upper limits are 5–20 times smaller than given by previous direct evidence. The experimental energy resolution achieved in the investigation is such that inherent atomic effects in the measured β-spectrum will severely limit further improvement in actual, effective resolution.- neutrino: mass
- mass: neutrino
- neutrino: degeneracy
- tritium: leptonic decay
- leptonic decay: tritium
- counters and detectors: experimental results
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