0000000000374621
AUTHOR
Sebastian Kempf
Measurement of the $^{229}$Th isomer energy with a magnetic micro-calorimeter
We present a measurement of the low-energy (0--60$\,$keV) $\gamma$ ray spectrum produced in the $\alpha$-decay of $^{233}$U using a dedicated cryogenic magnetic micro-calorimeter. The energy resolution of $\sim$$10\,$eV, together with exceptional gain linearity, allow us to measure the energy of the low-lying isomeric state in $^{229}$Th using four complementary evaluation schemes. The most accurate scheme determines the $^{229}$Th isomer energy to be $8.10(17)\,$eV, corresponding to 153.1(37)$\,$nm, superseding in precision previous values based on $\gamma$ spectroscopy, and agreeing with a recent measurement based on internal conversion electrons. We also measure branching ratios of the r…
Simulation and optimization of the implantation of holmium atoms into metallic magnetic microcalorimeters for neutrino mass determination experiments
Abstract Several novel experiments designed to investigate the electron neutrino mass in the sub-eV region are based on the calorimetric measurement of the 163Ho electron capture spectrum. For this the 163Ho source, with a required activity of the order of 1 to 100 Bq , needs to be enclosed in the detector, having a volume smaller than 10 − 3 mm 3 . Ion implantation is presently considered to be the most reliable method to enclose this source in the detector homogeneously distributed in a well defined volume. We have investigated the distribution of implanted holmium ions in different target materials and for different implantation energies by means of Monte Carlo simulations based on the S…
Measurement of the Th229 Isomer Energy with a Magnetic Microcalorimeter
We present a measurement of the low-energy (0-60 keV) γ-ray spectrum produced in the α decay of ^{233}U using a dedicated cryogenic magnetic microcalorimeter. The energy resolution of ∼10 eV, together with exceptional gain linearity, allows us to determine the energy of the low-lying isomeric state in ^{229}Th using four complementary evaluation schemes. The most precise scheme determines the ^{229}Th isomer energy to be 8.10(17) eV, corresponding to 153.1(32) nm, superseding in precision previous values based on γ spectroscopy, and agreeing with a recent measurement based on internal conversion electrons. We also measure branching ratios of the relevant excited states to be b_{29}=9.3(6)%…
A White Paper on keV sterile neutrino Dark Matter
We present a comprehensive review of keV-scale sterile neutrino Dark Matter, collecting views and insights from all disciplines involved - cosmology, astrophysics, nuclear, and particle physics - in each case viewed from both theoretical and experimental/observational perspectives. After reviewing the role of active neutrinos in particle physics, astrophysics, and cosmology, we focus on sterile neutrinos in the context of the Dark Matter puzzle. Here, we first review the physics motivation for sterile neutrino Dark Matter, based on challenges and tensions in purely cold Dark Matter scenarios. We then round out the discussion by critically summarizing all known constraints on sterile neutrin…