Hidden Signatures of New Physics at the KATRIN experiment

13 May 2025
Seminars and colloquia
Time
Venue
Dennis Sciama Lecture Theatre
Denys Wilkinson Building, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Keble Road, Oxford OX1 3RH
Speaker(s)

Caroline Fengler, KIT

Seminar series
Experimental particle physics seminar

Abstract

The KArlsuhe TRItium Neutrino experiment (KATRIN) aims to measure the effective electron anti-neutrino mass by precision spectroscopy of tritium β decay. With a data set of 259 measurement days and optimised experimental conditions, KATRIN recently set a new world-leading constraint on the neutrino mass from direct kinematic measurement, with a 0.45 eV/c² sensitivity. Beyond the neutrino mass, the ultra-precise measurement of the β spectrum at KATRIN can reveal further distinct signatures of new physics. To cover multiple new physics scenarios, the so-called generalised neutrino interactions are incorporated into the β-spectrum model; their contributions to the weak interaction can be identified by unique energy-dependent modifications of the measured spectrum in KATRIN. First constraints on these novel interactions have been derived based on the data of the second measurement campaign, which will be presented in this talk.