A4 Article in conference proceedings
Rare weak decays and neutrino mass (2023)

Kotila, J. (2023). Rare weak decays and neutrino mass. In A. Gargano, G. De Gregorio, L. Coraggio, & N. Itaco (Eds.), ISS 2022 : 13th International Spring Seminar on Nuclear Physics : Perspectives and Challenges in Nuclear Structure after 70 Years of Shell Model (Article 012012). IOP Publishing. Journal of Physics : Conference Series, 2453. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/2453/1/012012

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Kotila, Jenni

Parent publication: ISS 2022 : 13th International Spring Seminar on Nuclear Physics : Perspectives and Challenges in Nuclear Structure after 70 Years of Shell Model

Parent publication editors: Gargano, Angela; De Gregorio, Giovanni; Coraggio, Luigi; Itaco, Nunzio

Conference:

Place and date of conference: Sant'Angelo, Italy, 14.-20.5.2022

Journal or series: Journal of Physics : Conference Series

ISSN: 1742-6588

eISSN: 1742-6596

Publication year: 2023

Publication date: 01/03/2023

Number in series: 2453

Article number: 012012

Publisher: IOP Publishing

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/2453/1/012012

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/87323

Abstract

The question whether neutrinos are Majorana fermions (i.e., their own anti-particles) remains among the most fundamental open questions of subatomic physics. If neutrinos are Majorana particles it would revolutionize our understanding of physics. Although neutrinoless double beta decay, 0νββ, was proposed more than 80 years ago to establish the nature of neutrinos, it remains the most sensitive probe into the non-conservation of lepton number. 0νββ-decay is a postulated extremely slow and yet unobserved radioactive process in which two neutrons (or protons) inside a nucleus transform into two protons (or neutrons) emitting two electrons (or positrons), respectively, but no neutrinos. Its observation would be a breakthrough in the description of elementary particles and would provide fundamental information on the neutrino masses, their nature, and origin. In this paper double beta decay, its connection to neutrino mass, and mechanisms beyond the standard mass mechanism are discussed from a theoretical point of view. The current situation is then addressed by combining theoretical results with recent experimental limits.

Keywords: particle physics; nuclear physics; neutrinos

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Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2023

Preliminary JUFO rating: 1