Quasiparticle random phase approximation uncertainties and their correlations in the analysis of neutrinoless double beta decay

TL;DR

This paper estimates the uncertainties and correlations in nuclear matrix elements for neutrinoless double beta decay using QRPA, highlighting their impact on decay rate comparisons and neutrino mass reconstruction.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of QRPA-based NME uncertainties and their correlations, emphasizing their significance in interpreting neutrinoless double beta decay experiments.

Findings

Correlated NME uncertainties significantly affect decay rate comparisons.

NME uncertainties are degenerate with Majorana neutrino mass uncertainties.

Proper accounting of correlations is crucial for accurate neutrino mass inference.

Abstract

The variances and covariances associated to the nuclear matrix elements (NME) of neutrinoless double beta decay are estimated within the quasiparticle random phase approximation (QRPA). It is shown that correlated NME uncertainties play an important role in the comparison of neutrinoless double beta decay rates for different nuclei, and that they are degenerate with the uncertainty in the reconstructed Majorana neutrino mass.