Suitability of {sup 187}Re {Beta} decay for cryogenic micro-calorimeter measurement of v{sub e} mass
The decay {sup 187}Re(5/2{sup +}) {r_arrow} {sup 187}Os{1/2}{sup -} + e{sup -} + {anti v}{sub e}, Q{sub {Beta}-}=2.6 keV, t{sub {1/2}} = 4.3 x 10{sup 10} yrs, may be studied in a superconducting Re absorber operating at temperatures of {approximately} 0.1 Kelvin. The temperature transient, in principle, can provide a high resolution ({approximately} 5 eV FWHM) measure of the total energy not given to the {anti v}{sub e} of individual beta decays. The technique avoids the practical problems of energy loss in the source, slit scattering, and variation in detection efficiency as well as the theoretical question of final states. However, the necessity of viewing the entire spectrum raises the question of the statistical accuracy achievable in a practical experiment. By Monte Carlo study, including the effects of pileup and background and the measurement of the resolution function, we demonstrate that, theoretically, a single device can reach a precision of 60 eV{sup 2} (1 {sigma}) or 10 eV (95% C.L.), assuming a central value of zero, in 50 days and that 16 such detectors could reach a 5 eV limit in the same time.
- OSTI ID:
- 387250
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-931044--
- Journal Information:
- Bulletin of the American Physical Society, Journal Name: Bulletin of the American Physical Society Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 38; ISSN BAPSA6; ISSN 0003-0503
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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