Double Beta Decay and Neutrino Mass

by Dr Jenni KOTILA (Dept. Phys. University of Jyvaskyla)

Thursday 1 Sept 2016, 15:00 → 16:00 Europe/Rome

605 (Dip.to di Fisica)

The two-neutrino double beta decay is the rarest confirmed nuclear weak process and the first direct laboratory detection was only achieved as recently as 1987. Even rarer alternative for this process is the neutrinoless double beta decay, which can only take place if the neutrino is a massive Majorana particle, i.e. its own antiparticle, and if detected would revolutionize our understanding of physics. In this talk I will review the theory of double beta decay and present recent results in the calculation of phase space factors and nuclear matrix elements in different decay modes. Predictions for half-lives and limits for average neutrino mass are made, as well. I will also discuss some possible additional scenarios, such as the existence of sterile neutrinos.

Slides Kotila_genoa2016.pdf