Achievable neutrino mass limits from calorimetric beta spectroscopy

Our current research program aims to measure the mass of the electron antin eutrino by its effect on the shape of the tritium beta decay spectrum near the end point. The beta source is encapsulated inside a cryogenic microcalo rimeter such that only the neutrino escapes, and we measure the total energ y released in each decay, minus the neutrino energy. The ultimate limitatio n on such a measurement comes from the statistics of pileup in the energy r egion near the end point. We discuss the required detector characteristics. and the mass limit which can be achieved. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. A ll rights reserved.