A4 Article in conference proceedings
Double beta decay and the quest for Majorana neutrinos (2020)

Kotila, J. (2020). Double beta decay and the quest for Majorana neutrinos. In INPC2019 : 27th International Nuclear Physics Conference (Article 012023). Institute of Physics. Journal of Physics : Conference Series, 1643. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1643/1/012023

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Kotila, Jenni

Parent publication: INPC2019 : 27th International Nuclear Physics Conference

Place and date of conference: Glasgow, UK, 29.7.-2.8.2019

Journal or series: Journal of Physics : Conference Series

ISSN: 1742-6588

eISSN: 1742-6596

Publication year: 2020

Number in series: 1643

Article number: 012023

Publisher: Institute of Physics

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1643/1/012023

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/73539

Abstract

The observation of neutrinoless double beta (0νββ) decay remains crucial for understanding lepton number violation. The inverse half-life for 0νββ-decay is given by the product of a phase space factor (PSF), a nuclear matrix element (NME), which both rely on theoretical description, and a function f containing the physics beyond the standard model. Phase space factors and nuclear matrix elements have been evaluated, or are under evaluation, systematically for all processes of interest. The nuclear matrix elements have been calculated within the framework of the microscopic interacting boson model (IBM-2), and phase space factors have been evaluated using exact Dirac electron wave functions. The current situation is then discussed by combining the theoretical results with experimental limits on the half-life of neutrinoless double beta decay. The extracted limits on the average light neutrino mass are addressed, complemented with a discussion of other possible 0νββ-decay mechanisms and scenarios.

Keywords: nuclear physics; particle physics

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Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2020

JUFO rating: 1