Neutrinoless double beta decay

Neutrinoless double beta decay (0νββ) is a commonly proposed and experimentally pursued theoretical radioactive decay process that would prove a Majorana nature of the neutrino particle.[1][2] To this day, it has not been found.[2][3][4]

The discovery of neutrinoless double beta decay could shed light on the absolute neutrino masses and on their mass hierarchy (Neutrino mass). It would mean the first ever signal of the violation of total lepton number conservation.[5] A Majorana nature of neutrinos would confirm that the neutrino is its own antiparticle.[6]

To search for neutrinoless double beta decay, there are currently a number of experiments underway, with several future experiments for increased sensitivity proposed as well.[7]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference GrotzKlapdor1990 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Oberauer2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Rodejohann2012 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Deppisch, Frank F. (2019). A modern introduction to neutrino physics. Morgan & Claypool Publishers. ISBN 978-1-64327-679-3.
  5. ^ Patrignani et al. (Particle Data Group), C. (October 2016). "Review of Particle Physics". Chinese Physics C. 40 (10): 647. Bibcode:2016ChPhC..40j0001P. doi:10.1088/1674-1137/40/10/100001. hdl:10044/1/57200. S2CID 125766528.
  6. ^ Majorana, Ettore (1937). "Teoria simmetrica dell'elettrone e del positrone". Il Nuovo Cimento. 14 (4): 171–184. Bibcode:1937NCim...14..171M. doi:10.1007/BF02961314. S2CID 18973190.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Bilenky2015 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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