Production of 83Rb for the KATRIN experiment

For the neutrino mass determination experiment KATRIN, the long-term stability of the spectrometer voltage is of crucial importance. Therefore, it is planned to control the voltage continuously in a smaller spectrometer, which monitors the position of the conversion electron line emitted in the 32 keV transition in the decay of 83mKr. Due to the short half-life of 83mKr (t1/2=1.83 h), it has to be supplied by a long-lived 83mKr(83Rb) generator (t1/2=86 d). Here, a hitherto unexploited method for the efficient production of 83Rb and its suitability for its application in the KATRIN monitor spectrometer is described.