EVIDENCE FOR NEUTRINOLESS DOUBLE BETA DECAY

2001/12/07 by H. V. Klapdor-Kleingrothaus, H. V. KLAPDOR-KLEINGROTHAUS, A. DIETZ +5 · 30 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #BETA (programming language) #Beta decay #Double beta decay #Lepton #Lepton number #MAJORANA #Neutrino #Neutrino Physics Research #Neutrino oscillation #Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies #Radioactive Decay and Measurement Techniques #hep-ph

paper · pdf · doi:10.1142/s0217732301005825

published as Mod.Phys.Lett.A16:2409-2420,2001 · 14 pages, psfile, 7 figures, Published in Modern Physics Letters A, Vol. 16, No. 37 (2001) 2409-2420, World Scientific Publishing Company, Home Page: http://ejournals.wspc.com.sg/mpla/16/1637/S0217732301005825.html, Home Page of Heidelberg Non-Accelerator Particle Physics Group: http://www.mpi-hd.mpg.de/non_acc/

openalex publication_date 2001/12/07 · arxiv created 2002/01/24 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · arxiv updated 2016/09/06 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05

Abstract

The data of the Heidelberg–Moscow double beta decay experiment for the measuring period August 1990–May 2000 (54.9813 kg y or 723.44 molyears), published recently, are analyzed using the potential of the Bayesian method for low counting rates. First evidence for neutrinoless double beta decay is observed giving first evidence for lepton number violation. The evidence for this decay mode is 97% (2.2σ) with the Bayesian method, and 99.8% c.l. (3.1σ) with the method recommended by the Particle Data Group. The half-life of the process is found with the Bayesian method to be [Formula: see text] (95% c.l.) with a best value of 1.5 × 10 25 y . The deduced value of the effective neutrino mass is, with the nuclear matrix elements from Ref. 1, <m> = (0.11–0.56) eV (95% c.l.), with a best value of 0.39 eV. Uncertainties in the nuclear matrix elements may widen the range given for the effective neutrino mass by at most a factor 2. Our observation which at the same time means evidence that the neutrino is a Majorana particle, will be of fundamental importance for neutrino physics.

Citations

• Teoria simmetrica dell’elettrone e del positrone

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