Abstract
The GERDA experiment is searching for the neutrinoless double beta decay of 76Ge. An observation of the neutrinoless double beta decay will not only prove lepton number violation by two units, but also that the neutrino is its own anti-particle, thus of Majorana type. The status of the experiment will be presented.
Highlights
Neutrino oscillations proved that a neutrino has a mass
Is the neutrino a Dirac particle or a Majorana particle? What is the absolute neutrino mass scale? An experimental way to approach these questions is to search for a particular nuclear decay, the neutrinoless double beta decay (0νββ), which can be summarized as (A, Z) → (A, Z + 2) + 2e−
(A, Z) → (A, Z + 2) + 2e− + 2 ̄νe, the 0νββ violates the lepton number by two units, so it is not predicted by the Standard Model
Summary
Neutrino oscillations proved that a neutrino has a mass. new questions arise. What is the absolute neutrino mass scale? An experimental way to approach these questions is to search for a particular nuclear decay, the neutrinoless double beta decay (0νββ), which can be summarized as (A, Z) → (A, Z + 2) + 2e−. In contrast with the predicted and observed double beta decay with the emission of two neutrinos (2νββ). The Schechter–Valle theorem states that 0νββ implies that the neutrino is a Majorana particle [1]. If it is a real decay, it is possible to evaluate the effective mass of the electron neutrino mββ =.
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