2 research outputs found
The Electron Capture Ho Experiment ECHo: an overview
The determination of the absolute scale of the neutrino masses is one of the
most challenging present questions in particle physics. The most stringent
limit, eV, was achieved for the electron
anti-neutrino mass \cite{numass}. Different approaches are followed to achieve
a sensitivity on neutrino masses in the sub-eV range. Among them, experiments
exploring the beta decay or electron capture of suitable nuclides can provide
information on the electron neutrino mass value. We present the Electron
Capture Ho experiment ECHo, which aims to investigate the electron
neutrino mass in the sub-eV range by means of the analysis of the
calorimetrically measured energy spectrum following electron capture of
Ho. A high precision and high statistics spectrum will be measured with
arrays of metallic magnetic calorimeters. We discuss some of the essential
aspects of ECHo to reach the proposed sensitivity: detector optimization and
performance, multiplexed readout, Ho source production and
purification, as well as a precise theoretical and experimental
parameterization of the calorimetric EC spectrum including in particular the
value of . We present preliminary results obtained with a
first prototype of single channel detectors as well as a first 64-pixel chip
with integrated micro-wave SQUID multiplexer, which will already allow to
investigate in the eV range.Comment: Contribution to the LTD15 Conference Proceeding