Recent Results in Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent experimental progress in neutrinoless double beta decay research, highlighting advances that could reveal neutrino properties and physics beyond the Standard Model.

Contribution

It summarizes recent experimental results and discusses future goals in the search for neutrinoless double beta decay.

Findings

Progress in experimental techniques enabling sensitivity to neutrino masses below 50 meV

Multiple experiments using different isotopes are advancing the search

Potential to determine the Majorana nature of neutrinos and lepton number violation

Abstract

The search for neutrinoless double beta decay is a rich source for new physics. The observation of this decay will lead to understanding of the absolute mass scale of neutrinos, the Majorana nature of the neutrino (whether the neutrino is its own anti-particle), and lepton number violation. Double beta decay is being investigated around the world by several experiments using different candidate isotopes. There has been much progress made in experimental techniques recently such that achieving sensitivity to neutrino masses at 50 meV and below will be possible in the near future. A summary of recent results in neutrinoless double beta decay is discussed with a look toward the experimental goals for the future.