scispace - formally typeset
Search or ask a question
Journal ArticleDOI

Double beta-disintegration

15 Sep 1935-Physical Review (American Physical Society)-Vol. 48, Iss: 6, pp 512-516
TL;DR: In this paper, the probability of simultaneous emission of two electrons and two neutrinos has been calculated from the Fermi theory of ''ensuremath{\beta}$-disintegration''.
Abstract: From the Fermi theory of $\ensuremath{\beta}$-disintegration the probability of simultaneous emission of two electrons (and two neutrinos) has been calculated. The result is that this process occurs sufficiently rarely to allow a half-life of over ${10}^{17}$ years for a nucleus, even if its isobar of atomic number different by 2 were more stable by 20 times the electron mass.
Citations
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The theoretical and experimental issues relevant to neutrinoless double beta decay are reviewed in this paper, with significant emphasis on proposals favored by recent panel reviews, and the importance of and challenges in the calculation of nuclear matrix elements that govern the decay are considered in detail.
Abstract: The theoretical and experimental issues relevant to neutrinoless double beta decay are reviewed. The impact that a direct observation of this exotic process would have on elementary particle physics, nuclear physics, astrophysics, and cosmology is profound. Now that neutrinos are known to have mass and experiments are becoming more sensitive, even the nonobservation of neutrinoless double beta decay will be useful. If the process is actually observed, we will immediately learn much about the neutrino. The status and discovery potential of proposed experiments are reviewed in this context, with significant emphasis on proposals favored by recent panel reviews. The importance of and challenges in the calculation of nuclear matrix elements that govern the decay are considered in detail. The increasing sensitivity of experiments and improvements in nuclear theory make the future exciting for this field at the interface of nuclear and particle physics.

887 citations


Additional excerpts

  • ...Double-beta decay was first considered in a 1935 paper by Maria Goeppert-Mayer (Goeppert-Mayer, 1935)....

    [...]

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the particle physics aspects of neutrino-less double beta decay are reviewed and the consequences of future measurements or improved limits on the half-life of the decay are discussed.
Abstract: We review the particle physics aspects of neutrino-less double beta decay. This process can be mediated by light massive Majorana neutrinos (standard interpretation) or by something else (non-standard interpretations). The physics potential of both interpretations is summarized and the consequences of future measurements or improved limits on the half-life of neutrino-less double beta decay are discussed. We try to cover all proposed alternative realizations of the decay, including light sterile neutrinos, supersymmetric or left-right symmetric theories, Majorons, and other exotic possibilities. Ways to distinguish the mechanisms from one another are discussed. Experimental and nuclear physics aspects are also briefly touched, alternative processes to double beta decay are discussed, and an extensive list of references is provided.

535 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is shown that it is possible to disentangle the various mechanisms and unambiguously extract the important neutrino-mass scale, if all the signatures of the reaction are searched for in a sufficient number of nuclear isotopes.
Abstract: Neutrinoless double-beta decay, which is a very old and yet elusive process, is reviewed. Its observation will signal that the lepton number is not conserved and that the neutrinos are Majorana particles. More importantly it is our best hope for determining the absolute neutrino-mass scale at the level of a few tens of meV. To achieve the last goal certain hurdles must be overcome involving particle, nuclear and experimental physics. Nuclear physics is important for extracting useful information from the data. One must accurately evaluate the relevant nuclear matrix elements--a formidable task. To this end, we review the sophisticated nuclear structure approaches which have recently been developed, and which give confidence that the required nuclear matrix elements can be reliably calculated employing different methods: (a) the various versions of the quasiparticle random phase approximations, (b) the interacting boson model, (c) the energy density functional method and (d) the large basis interacting shell model. It is encouraging that, for the light neutrino-mass term at least, these vastly different approaches now give comparable results. From an experimental point of view it is challenging, since the life times are long and one has to fight against formidable backgrounds. One needs large isotopically enriched sources and detectors with high-energy resolution, low thresholds and very low background. If a signal is found, it will be a tremendous accomplishment. The real task then, of course, will be the extraction of the neutrino mass from the observations. This is not trivial, since current particle models predict the presence of many mechanisms other than the neutrino mass, which may contribute to or even dominate this process. In particular, we will consider the following processes: The neutrino induced, but neutrino-mass independent contribution. Heavy left and/or right-handed neutrino-mass contributions. Intermediate scalars (doubly charged, etc). Supersymmetric (SUSY) contributions. We will show that it is possible to disentangle the various mechanisms and unambiguously extract the important neutrino-mass scale, if all the signatures of the reaction are searched for in a sufficient number of nuclear isotopes.

469 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The discovery of neutrino masses through the observation of oscillations boosted the importance of neutrinoless double beta decay as mentioned in this paper, underlining its key role from both the experimental and theoretical point of view.
Abstract: The discovery of neutrino masses through the observation of oscillations boosted the importance of neutrinoless double beta decay (). In this paper, we review the main features of this process, underlining its key role from both the experimental and theoretical point of view. In particular, we contextualize the in the panorama of lepton number violating processes, also assessing some possible particle physics mechanisms mediating the process. Since the existence is correlated with neutrino masses, we also review the state of the art of the theoretical understanding of neutrino masses. In the final part, the status of current experiments is presented and the prospects for the future hunt for are discussed. Also, experimental data coming from cosmological surveys are considered and their impact on expectations is examined.

423 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The double beta (ββ) decay is a rare transition between two nuclei with the same mass number that changes the nuclear charge number by two units as discussed by the authors, and it has been long recognized as a powerful tool for the study of lepton conservation in general and of neutrino properties in particular.
Abstract: Double beta (ββ) decay is a rare transition between two nuclei with the same mass number that changes the nuclear charge number by two units. It has been long recognized as a powerful tool for the study of lepton conservation in general and of neutrino properties in particular. Because the lifetimes of ββ decay are so long, the experimental study of ββ decay is particularly challenging and has spawned a whole field of experiments requiring very low background.

414 citations