title: Atomic masses of tritium and helium-3.
abstract: By measuring the cyclotron frequency ratios of (3)He(+) to HD(+) and T(+) to HD(+), and using HD(+) as a mass reference, we obtain new atomic masses for (3)He and T. Our results are M[(3)He]=3.016 029 322 43(19)  u and M[T]=3.016 049 281 78(19)  u, where the uncertainty includes an uncertainty of 0.12 nu in the mass reference. Allowing for cancellation of common systematic errors, we find the Q value for tritium β decay to be (M[T]-M[(3)He])c(2)=18 592.01(7)  eV. This allows an improved test of systematics in measurements of tritium β decay that set limits on neutrino mass.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306-4350, USA.
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306-4350, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306-4350, USA.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kracke
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306-4350, USA.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Wesson