Speaker
Description
The HOLMES experiment aims to measure the neutrino mass by investigating the electron capture decay spectrum of $^{163}$Ho using Transition Edge Sensor (TES) microcalorimeters. The final design foresees arrays implanted with about 30 Bq per detector of the selected isotope.
To perform the implantation and separate $^{163}$Ho contaminants, a dedicated mass-separator beamline has been implemented at the Genoa laboratory, enabling the production of an array with an average activity of 0.27 Bq per detector. This milestone enabled the first neutrino mass measurement by HOLMES.
From this experience, it emerged that the main limitation of the implantation procedure lies in the sputter ion source low efficiency and limited control on beam. The system is therefore being upgraded starting from a completely new design of the ion source, and adding some new beam line elements, including an electrostatic quadrupole, a steering magnet and some diagnostic tools. All these items are deployed with the goal of reaching O(10) Bq per detector and enhancing the total implantation efficiency. This work presents the status of these upgrades, the simulations guiding the new design, and the data collected from a preliminary beamline, all aimed at improving implantation efficiency and increasing the implanted activity.
| Collaboration or Other Affiliation | Holmes |
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