First Operation of the Complete KATRIN Superconducting Magnet Chain

The neutrino mass experiment KATRIN recently operated its complete chain of the superconducting magnets for the first-light test. The superconducting solenoid magnets are designed to adiabatically guide electrons from the source to the detector within a magnetic flux of 191 T· cm 2 along the 70-m-long KATRIN beam line. The complete beam line is connected through the bore of ten stand-alone solenoids magnets and two large solenoids magnet systems. The six magnet modules of two transport sections are aligned with tilted angles to avoid direct molecular beaming of tritium molecules to the next sections. The first-light test performed at reduced magnetic fields with an electron source successfully confirmed the sophisticated beam alignment for the KATRIN experiment. The complete magnets were continuously operated about two weeks for the first-light tests in October, 2016. This paper reports on the first operation results of the complete KATRIN magnets.