2003/02/25 by H. V. Klapdor-Kleingrothaus
Physics and Astronomy · #Degenerate energy levels #Double beta decay #Lepton #Lepton number #MAJORANA #Neutrino #Neutrino Physics Research #Neutrino oscillation #Oscillation (cell signaling) #Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies #Radioactive Decay and Measurement Techniques #Sterile neutrino #hep-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1023/a:1025653108273
published as Found.Phys.33:813-829,2003 · 16 pages, latex, 10 figures, Talk was presented at Zacatecas Forum in Physics 2002, 11-13 MAY, 2002, Zacatecas, Mexico, eds. M. Kirchbach and D. V. Ahluwalia (2003), and see Home Page of Heidelberg Non-Accelerator Particle Physics Group: http://www.mpi-hd.mpg.de/non_acc/
arxiv created 2003/02/25 · openalex publication_date 2003/05/01 · arxiv updated 2014/11/17 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
Double beta decay is indispensable to solve the question of the neutrino mass matrix together with ν oscillation experiments. Recent analysis of the most sensitive experiment since nine years - the HEIDELBERG-MOSCOW experiment in Gran-Sasso - yields a first indication for the neutrinoless decay mode. This result is the first evidence for lepton number violation and proves the neutrino to be a Majorana particle. We give the present status of the analysis in this report. It excludes several of the neutrino mass scenarios allowed from present neutrino oscillation experiments - only degenerate scenarios and those with inverse mass hierarchy survive. This result allows neutrinos to still play an important role as dark matter in the Universe. To improve the accuracy of the present result, considerably enlarged experiments are required, such as GENIUS. A GENIUS Test Facility has been funded and will come into operation by early 2003.