Majorana neutrino. Is double neutrinoless beta decay possible in the framework of the weak interactions? How to prove that neutrino is Majorana particle

2007/07/31 by Х. М. Бештоев, Beshtoev, Kh. M.
Physics and Astronomy · #Neutrino Physics Research

paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.0707.4557

Abstract

Usually it is supposed that Majorana neutrino produced in the superposition state χ_L = ν_L + (ν_L)^c and then follows the neutrinoless double beta decay. But since weak interactions are chiral invariant then the neutrino at production has definite helicity (i.e., ν_L and (ν_L)^c neutrinos are separately produced and then neutrino is not in the superposition state). This helicity cannot change after production without any external interactions. Thus we see that for unsuitable helicity the neutrinoless double β decay is not possible even if neutrino is a Majorana particle. Also transition of Majorana neutrino into antineutrino at their oscillations is forbidden since helicity in vacuum holds. Then only possibility to prove that neutrino is a Dirac but not Majorana particle is detection transition of ν_L neutrino into (sterile) antineutrino ν_R (i.e., ν_L → ν_R) at neutrino oscillations. Transition Majora neutrino ν_L into (ν_R)^c (i.e., ν_L → (ν_R)^c) at oscillations is unobserved since it is supposed that mass of (ν_R)^c is very big.

Related

• Is neutrino produced in standard weak interactions a Dirac or Majorana particle?
• Can Neutrinos be Majorana Particles
• Neutrinos: Majorana or Dirac?
• The Physics of Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay: A Primer
• The phenomenology of neutrinos with Majorana mass terms and standard-model interactions derived in the charge-parity basis