A Combined Limit on the Neutrino Mass from Neutrinoless Double-Beta Decay and Constraints on Sterile Majorana Neutrinos

TL;DR

This paper combines data from multiple neutrinoless double-beta decay experiments to set limits on neutrino mass and sterile neutrino models, highlighting the impact of nuclear matrix element uncertainties.

Contribution

It introduces a framework for combining experimental data across isotopes and evaluates neutrino mass limits considering sterile neutrinos and nuclear matrix element variations.

Findings

Effective neutrino mass limits between 130-310 meV.

Statistical consistency with Heidelberg-Moscow claim analyzed.

Constraints on sterile Majorana neutrinos in a (3+1) model.

Abstract

We present a framework to combine data from the latest neutrinoless double-beta decay experiments for multiple isotopes and derive a limit on the effective neutrino mass using the experimental energy distributions. The combined limits on the effective mass range between 130-310 meV, where the spread is due to different model calculations of nuclear matrix elements (NMEs). The statistical consistency (p values) between this result and the signal observation claimed by the Heidelberg-Moscow experiment is derived. The limits on the effective mass are also evaluated in a (3+1) sterile neutrino model, assuming all neutrinos are Majorana particles.