Search Results (19)

We reexamine the angular correlation between the emitted electrons in the double beta decay (DBD) of ¹⁰⁰Mo, with particular attention to the impact of electronic wave function phase shifts. In the two-neutrino mode, the angular correlation factor increases modestly compared to calculations without phase shifts. However, a more detailed analysis of the angular correlation energy distributions uncovered a striking feature: electrons are most likely emitted in the same direction when one of them is below a certain energy threshold. We show that this feature is absent in previous Standard Model (SM) predictions and that phase shifts could also influence the angular correlations predicted by new physics models in two-neutrino DBD. For the neutrinoless mode, the direction flip is also present when phase shifts are included in the calculation. However, the angular correlation factor does not change much when phase shifts are taken into account, though our analysis is limited to the light neutrino exchange as the dominant mechanism. These findings highlight the subtle yet significant role that phase shifts can play in shaping electron emission patterns, influencing both SM and new physics predictions in DBD. Full article

The deformed shell model (DSM), based on Hartree–Fock intrinsic states with angular momentum projection and band mixing, has been found to be quite successful in describing many spectroscopic properties of nuclei in the A = 60–100 region. More importantly, DSM has been used recently with good success in calculating nuclear structure factors, which are needed for a variety of weak interaction processes. In this article, in addition to giving an overview of this, we discuss the applications of DSM to obtain cross-sections for coherent and incoherent neutrino nucleus scattering on ^96,98,100Mo targets and also for obtaining two neutrino double beta decay nuclear transition matrix elements for ¹⁰⁰Mo. Full article

The theory of heavy ion double charge exchange (DCE) reactions proceeding by effective rank-2 isotensor interactions is presented. Virtual pion–nucleon charge exchange interactions are investigated as the source for induced isotensor interactions, giving rise to the Majorana DCE (MDCE) reaction mechanism. MDCE is of a generic character, proceeding through pairs of complementary (${\pi }^{\pm },{\pi }^{\mp }$) reactions in the projectile and target nucleus. The dynamics of the elementary processes is discussed, where the excitation of pion–nucleon resonances are of central importance. Investigations of initial and final state ion–ion interactions show that these effects are acting as vertex renormalizations. In closure approximation, well justified by the finite pion mass, the second-order transition matrix elements reduce to pion potentials and effective two-body isotensor DCE interactions, giving rise also to two-body correlations in either of the participating nuclei. Connections to neutrinoless Majorana double beta decay (MDBD) are elucidated at various levels of the dynamics, from the underlying fundamental electro-weak and QCD scales to the physical scales of nuclear MDBD and MDCE physics. It is pointed out that heavy ion MDCE reactions may also proceed by competing electro-weak charge exchange processes, leading to lepton MDCE by electrons, positrons, and neutrinos. Full article

Weak interaction processes continue to be hot topics in fundamental physics research. In this paper, we briefly review some recent advances in the theoretical study of beta and double-beta decays that include both the nuclear and atomic part of these processes. On the nuclear side, we present a statistical approach for the computation of the nuclear matrix elements (NME) for neutrinoless double-beta ($0\nu \beta \beta$). A range of NME values, the most probable value for NME, and the associated theoretical uncertainty are given. Correlations with other related observables are shown as well. On the atomic side, we first briefly review the methods used to obtain the electrons’ wave functions. Further, we use them for the computation of some relevant kinematic quantities such as Fermi functions, electron spectra, and angular correlation between the emitted electrons. Then, we present applications of these calculations to the experimental data analysis related to the search of the Lorentz invariance violation in two-neutrino double-beta ($2\nu \beta \beta$) decay and description of the decay rates and decay rate ratios for allowed and unique forbidden electron capture (EC) processes. Full article

In this paper, we update the phase-space factors for all two-neutrino double electron capture processes. The Dirac–Hartree–Fock–Slater self-consistent method is employed to describe the bound states of captured electrons, enabling a more realistic treatment of atomic screening and more precise binding energies of the captured electrons compared to previous investigations. Additionally, we consider all s-wave electrons available for capture, expanding beyond the K and $L_1$ orbitals considered in prior studies. For light atoms, the increase associated with additional captures compensates for the decrease in decay rate caused by the more precise atomic screening. However, for medium and heavy atoms, an increase in the decay rate, up to 10% for the heaviest atoms, is observed due to the combination of these two effects. In the systematic analysis, we also include capture fractions for the first few dominant partial captures. Our precise model enables a close examination of low Q-value double electron capture in ¹⁵²Gd, ¹⁶⁴Er, and ²⁴²Cm, where partial $KK$ captures are energetically forbidden. Finally, with the updated phase-space values, we recalculate the effective nuclear matrix elements and compare their spread with those associated with $2\nu {\beta }^{-}{\beta }^{-}$ decay. Full article

The role of initial state (ISI) and final state (FSI) ion–ion interactions in heavy-ion double-charge-exchange (DCE) reactions $A(Z,N)\to A(Z\pm 2,N\mp 2)$ are studied for double single-charge-exchange (DSCE) reactions given by sequential actions of the isovector nucleon–nucleon (NN) T-matrix. In momentum representation, the second-order DSCE reaction amplitude is shown to be given in factorized form by projectile and target nuclear matrix elements and a reaction kernel containing ISI and FSI. Expanding the intermediate propagator in a Taylor series with respect to auxiliary energy allows us to perform the summation in the leading-order term over intermediate nuclear states in closure approximation. The nuclear matrix element attains a form given by the products of two-body interactions directly exciting the $n^2{p}^{-2}$ and $p^2{n}^{-2}$ DCE transitions in the projectile and the target nucleus, respectively. A surprising result is that the intermediate propagation induces correlations between the transition vertices, showing that DSCE reactions are a two-nucleon process that resembles a system of interacting spin–isospin dipoles. Transformation of the DSCE NN T-matrix interactions from the reaction theoretical t-channel form to the s-channel operator structure required for spectroscopic purposes is elaborated in detail, showing that, in general, a rich spectrum of spin scalar, spin vector and higher-rank spin tensor multipole transitions will contribute to a DSCE reaction. Similarities (and differences) to two-neutrino double-beta decay (DBD) are discussed. ISI/FSI distortion and absorption effects are illustrated in black sphere approximation and in an illustrative application to data. Full article

The results of experiments on the search for and study of double beta decay processes obtained over the past 5 years (from 2018 to April 2023) are discussed. The results of the search for neutrinoless double beta decay are presented, in which a sensitivity of $T_{1/2}\sim 2\times {10}^{24}$–$2\times {10}^{26}$ years (90% C.L.) has been achieved. The present conservative upper limit on effective Majorana neutrino mass $⟨m_{\nu }⟩$ was established from these experiments as 0.16 eV (90% C.L.). The results of experiments on recording and studying the processes of two-neutrino double beta decay in various nuclei (transitions to both the ground and excited states of daughter nuclei) are discussed too. The results of experiments on the search for majoron are also given. Possible progress in this field in the future is discussed. Full article

We propose a phenomenological model of two-zeros Majorana neutrino mass matrix based on the $A_4$ symmetry, where the structure of mixing matrix is a unimodular second scheme of trimaximal $T{M}_2$, and the charged lepton mass matrix is diagonal. We show that, among seven possible two-zero textures with $A_4$ symmetry, only two textures, namely the texture with $M_{ee}=0$ and $M_{e\mu }=0$ and its permutation, are acceptable in the non-perturbation method, since the results associated with these two textures are consistent with the experimental data. We obtain a unique relation between our phases, namely $\rho +\sigma =\varphi \pm \pi$, and an effective equation ${sin}^2{\theta }_{13}=\frac{2}{3}{R}_{\nu }$ where $R_{\nu }=\frac{\delta m^2}{\Delta m^2}$. Then, only by using the experimental ranges of $R_{\nu }$, we obtain the allowable range of the unknown parameter $\varphi$ as the phase of $T{M}_2$ mixing matrix, which leads to obtaining not only the ranges of all neutrino oscillation parameters of the model (which agree well with experimental data) but also with the masses of neutrinos, the Dirac and Majorana phases and the Jarlskog parameter, and to predict the normal neutrino mass hierarchy. Finally, we show that all the predictions regarding our two specific textures agree with the corresponding data reported from neutrino oscillation, cosmic microwave background and neutrinoless double beta decay. Full article

Studies of weak interaction in nuclei are important tools for testing different aspects of the fundamental symmetries of the Standard Model. Neutrinoless double beta decay offers an unique venue of investigating the possibility that neutrinos are Majorana fermions and that the lepton number conservation law is violated. Here, I use a shell model approach to calculate the nuclear matrix elements needed to extract the lepton-number-violating parameters of a few nuclei of experimental interest from the latest experimental lower limits of neutrinoless double beta decay half-lives. The analysis presented here could reveal valuable information regarding the dominant neutrinoless double beta decay mechanism if experimental half-life data become available for different isotopes. A complementary shell model analysis of the two-neutrino double beta decay nuclear matrix elements and half-lives is also presented. Full article

This paper reviews the history of the development of two-phase emission detector technology that was invented 50 years ago at the Moscow Engineering Physics Institute and is currently being used to search for dark matter, novel neutrino physics and double beta-decay in several internationally running experiments. Full article

This review aims to cover the history and recent developments on cryogenic bolometers for neutrinoless double beta decay (0$\nu$2$\beta$) searches. A 0$\nu$2$\beta$ decay observation would confirm the total lepton charge non-conservation, which is related to a global U(1)${}_{LC}$ symmetry. This discovery would also provide essential information on neutrino masses and nature, opening the door to new physics beyond the Standard Model. The bolometric technology shows good prospects for future ton-scale experiments that aim to fully investigate the inverted ordering region of neutrino masses. The big advantage of bolometers is the high energy resolution and the possibility of particle identification, as well as various methods of additional background rejection. The CUORE experiment has proved the feasibility of ton-scale cryogenic experiments, setting the most stringent limit on ${}^{130}$Te 0$\nu$2$\beta$ decay. Two CUPID demonstrators (CUPID-0 and CUPID-Mo) have set the most stringent limits on ${}^{82}$Se and ${}^{100}$Mo isotopes, respectively, with compatibly low exposures. Several experiments are developing new methods to improve the background in the region of interest with bolometric detectors. CUPID and AMoRE experiments aim to cover the inverted hierarchy region, using scintillating bolometers with hundreds of kg of ${}^{100}$Mo. We review all of these efforts here, with a focus on the different types of radioactive background and the measures put in place to mitigate them. Full article

The Gerda (GERmanium Detector Array) project, located at Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (LNGS), was started in 2005, a few years after the claim of evidence for the neutrinoless double beta decay ($0\nu \beta \beta$) of ${}^{76}$Ge to the ground state of ${}^{76}$Se: it is an ultra-rare process whose detection would directly establish the Majorana nature of the neutrino and provide a measurement of its mass and mass hierarchy. The aim of Gerda was to confirm or disprove the claim by an increased sensitivity experiment. After establishing the new technology of Ge detectors operated bare in liquid Argon and since 2011, Gerda efficiently collected data searching for $0\nu \beta \beta$ of ${}^{76}$Ge, first deploying the ${}^{76}$Ge-enriched detectors from two former experiments and later new detectors with enhanced signal-to-background rejection, produced from freshly ${}^{76}$Ge-enriched material. Since then, the Gerda setup has been upgraded twice, first in 2013–2015 and later in 2018. The period before 2013 is Phase I and that after 2015 is Phase II. Both the Gerda setup and the analysis tools evolved along the project lifetime, allowing to achieve the remarkable average energy resolution of ∼3.6 and ∼2.6 keV for Coaxial Germanium (Coax) detectors and for Broad Energy Germanium (BEGe), respectively, and the background index of $5.2_{-1.3}^{+1.6}$ · ${10}^{-4}$ cts/(keV·kg·yr) in a 230 keV net range centered at $Q_{\beta \beta }$. No evidence of the $0\nu \beta \beta$ decay at $Q_{\beta \beta }$ = 2039.1 keV has been found, hence the limit of $1.8·{10}^{26}$ yr on the half-life ($T_{1/2}^{0\nu }$) at 90% C.L. was set with the exposure of 127.2 kg·yr. The corresponding limit range for the effective Majorana neutrino mass $m_{ee}$ has been set to 79–180 meV. The Gerda performances in terms of background index, energy resolution and exposure are the best achieved so far by ${}^{76}$Ge double beta decay experiments. In Phase II, Gerda succeeded in operating in a background free regime and set a world record. In 2017, the Legend Collaboration was born from the merging of the Gerda and Majorana Collaborations and resources with the aim to further improve the Gerda sensitivity. First, the Legend200 project, with a mass of up to 200 kg of ${}^{76}$Ge-enriched detectors, aims to further improve the background index down to <0.6 · ${10}^{-3}$ cts/(keV·kg·yr) to explore the Inverted Hierarchy region of the neutrino mass ordering, then the Legend1000 (1 ton of ${}^{76}$Ge-enriched) will probe the Normal Hierarchy. In this paper, we describe the Gerda experiment, its evolution, the data analysis flow, a selection of its results and technological achievements, and finally the design, features and challenges of Legend, the Gerda prosecutor. Full article

The two-neutrino double-beta decay ($2\nu \beta \beta$-decay) process is attracting more and more attention of the physics community due to its potential to explain nuclear structure aspects of involved atomic nuclei and to constrain new (beyond the Standard model) physics scenarios. Topics of interest are energy and angular distributions of the emitted electrons, which might allow the deduction of valuable information about fundamental properties and interactions of neutrinos once a new generation of the double-beta decay experiments will be realized. These tasks require an improved theoretical description of the $2\nu \beta \beta$-decay differential decay rates, which is presented. The dependence of the denominators in nuclear matrix elements on lepton energies is taken into account via the Taylor expansion. Both the Fermi and Gamow-Teller matrix elements are considered. For nuclei of experimental interest, relevant phase-space factors are calculated by using exact Dirac wave functions with finite nuclear size and electron screening. The uncertainty of the angular correlation factor on nuclear structure parameters is discussed. It is emphasized that the effective axial-vector coupling constant $g_A^{\mathrm{eff}}$ can be determined more reliably by accurately measuring the angular correlation factor. Full article

The standard model of elementary interactions has long qualified as a theory of matter, in which the postulated conservation laws (one baryonic and three leptonic) acquire theoretical meaning. However, recent observations of lepton number violations—neutrino oscillations—demonstrate its incompleteness. We discuss why these considerations suggest the correctness of Ettore Majorana’s ideas on the nature of neutrino mass and add further interest to the search for an ultra-rare nuclear process in which two particles of matter (electrons) are created, commonly called neutrinoless double beta decay. The approach of the discussion is mainly historical, and its character is introductory. Some technical considerations, which highlight the usefulness of Majorana’s representation of gamma matrices, are presented in the appendix. Full article