On the Elusiveness of ββ0ν Decay

Abstract

To date, no evidence of ββ0ν decay has been found despite tremendous experimental efforts. In contrast, ββ2ν decay has been clearly and definitely observed in several nuclei. These experimental facts question the reality of ββ0ν decay. This ββ0ν decay which violates lepton number conservation can only occur if the neutrino is massive and is its own antiparticle or in other words is a truly neutral particle. The observation of this decay implies then that the neutrino is a truly neutral particle and it has a non-zero mass. But the absence of ββ0ν decay implies only that at least one of the two necessary conditions is not fulfilled. Since the truly neutral character of neutrino is a necessary condition, it is important to provide objective criteria of truly neutral particles. We propose a generalized Gell-Mann and Nishijima formula which provides naturally the criteria of truly neutral particles. According to these criteria n and ν are different from their antiparticles for symmetric reason. The absence of ββ0ν decay could then be simply understood. Indeed a truly neutral particle could be more generally defined as a neutral particle with respect to all charges and is its own antiparticle. The Dirac character of the neutrino does not contradict any experimental fact.