Why is Neutrinoless double beta decay?
The discovery of the neutrinoless double beta decay could shed light on the absolute neutrino masses and on their mass hierarchy (Neutrino mass). A Majorana nature of neutrinos would confirm that the neutrino’s own antiparticle is no different than itself, i.e. it is its own antiparticle.
What is double beta decay process?
Double beta decay (2νββ) is a nuclear transition in which an initial nucleus (Z,A), with proton number Z and total nucleon number A decays to (Z + 2,A) emitting two electrons and two antineutrinos in the process.
Why do neutrinos oscillate?
Theory. Neutrino oscillation arises from mixing between the flavor and mass eigenstates of neutrinos. This results in a changing superposition mixture of mass eigenstates as the neutrino travels; but a different mixture of mass eigenstates corresponds to a different mixture of flavor states.
Do neutrinos interact with matter?
Neutrinos are one of the most abundant particles in the universe. Because they have very little interaction with matter, however, they are incredibly difficult to detect.
What is the symbol for a neutrino?
symbol ν
Physicist Enrico Fermi popularized the name “neutrino”, which is Italian for “little neutral one.” Neutrinos are denoted by the Greek symbol ν, or nu (pronounced “new”). But not all neutrinos are the same. They come in different types and can be thought of in terms of flavors, masses, and energies.
Which nuclear equation represents beta decay?
Nuclear symbols are used to write nuclear equations for radioactive decay. Let’s consider the example of the beta-minus decay of thorium-234 to protactinium-234. This reaction is represented by the equation: 23490Th → 23491Pa + 0−1e + energy.
How is lepton number calculated?
The lepton numbers Le, Lμ, and Lτ are violated separately, but the total lepton number L = Le + Lμ + Lτ is conserved. (93) In this case the neutrinos νi are the Dirac particles that possess the lepton number L = 1. The lepton number of the antineutrinos i is equal to −1.
Is there such a thing as neutrinoless double beta decay?
The 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. To this day, it has not been found.
Is the double beta decay allowed in the standard model?
A number of isotopes have been observed already to show this two-neutrino double beta decay. This conventional double beta decay is allowed in the Standard Model of particle physics. It has thus both a theoretical and an experimental foundation.
How is double beta decay used to search for Majorana?
The neutrinoless double beta decay is one method to search for the possible Majorana nature of neutrinos. Ettore Majorana, the first to introduce the idea of particles and antiparticles being identical.