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Since the discovery of neutrino oscillations, we know that neutrinos have non-zero mass. However, the absolute neutrino-mass scale remains unknown. Here we report the upper limits on effective electron anti-neutrino mass, mν, from the second physics run of the Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino experiment. In this experiment, mν is probed via a high-precision measurement of the tritium β-decay spectrum close to its endpoint. This method is independent of any cosmological model and does not rely on assumptions whether the neutrino is a Dirac or Majorana particle. By increasing the source activity and reducing the background with respect to the first physics campaign, we reached a sensitivity on mν of 0.7 eV c–2 at a 90% confidence level (CL). The best fit to the spectral data yields $${{\mbox{}}}{m}_{\nu }^{2}{{\mbox{}}}$$ m ν 2  = (0.26 ± 0.34) eV2 c–4, resulting in an upper limit of mν < 0.9 eV c–2 at 90% CL. By combining this result with the first neutrino-mass campaign, we find an upper limit of mν < 0.8 eV c–2 at 90% CL.

The neutron capture cross section of 14 C is of relevance for several nucleosynthesis scenarios such as inhomogeneous Big Bang models, neutron induced CNO cycles, and neutrino driven wind models for the r process. The 14 C(n, γ ) reaction is also important for the validation of the Coulomb dissociation method, where the (n, γ ) cross section can be indirectly obtained via the time-reversed process. So far, the example of 14 C is the only case with neutrons where both, direct measurement and indirect Coulomb dissociation, have been applied. Unfortunately, the interpretation is obscured by discrepancies between several experiments and theory. Therefore, we report on new direct measurements of the 14 C(n, γ ) reaction with neutron energies ranging from 20 to 800 keV.

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. K: Beam-line instrumentation (beam position and profile monitors, beam-intensity monitors, bunch length monitors); Spectrometers; Gas systems and purification; Neutrino detectors A X P : 2103.04755Neutrino-mass mode. This is the standard mode of operation to continually adjust the retarding voltage of the MS in the range of [ 0 − 40 eV; 0 + 50 eV] while tritium is in the system. This scanning range can be adjusted if required. The voltage and the time spent at each setting are defined by the Measurement Time Distribution (MTD) (figure 3). A typical run at a given voltage lasts between 20 s and 600 s; a full scan of the energy range given above takes about 2 h. Of these standard neutrino-mass runs, a small portion will be dedicated to sterile neutrino searches. These searches involve scanning much farther (order of keV) below the endpoint 0 .Calibration mode. To check the long-term system stability, calibration measurements are done regularly. The neutrino-mass mode is suspended for the duration of these measurement:• An energy calibration of the FPD (section 6) is performed weekly, which requires closing off the detector system from the main beamline for about 4 h.• The offset and the gain correction factor of the low-voltage readout in the high-voltage measurement chain needs to be calibrated based on standard reference sources (section 5.3.4). This requires stopping the precision monitoring of the MS retarding potential twice per week for about 0.5 h each.

The Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino (KATRIN) experiment is a large-scale effort to probe the absolute neutrino mass scale with a sensitivity of 0.2 eV (90% confidence level), via a precise measurement of the endpoint spectrum of tritium β-decay. This work documents several KATRIN commissioning milestones: the complete assembly of the experimental beamline, the successful transmission of electrons from three sources through the beamline to the primary detector, and tests of ion transport and retention. In the First Light commissioning campaign of autumn 2016, photoelectrons were generated at the rear wall and ions were created by a dedicated ion source attached to the rear section; in July 2017, gaseous 83mKr was injected into the KATRIN source section, and a condensed 83mKr source was deployed in the transport section. In this paper we describe the technical details of the apparatus and the configuration for each measurement, and give first results on source and system performance. We have successfully achieved transmission from all four sources, established system stability, and characterized many aspects of the apparatus.