The Physics of Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay: A Primer

TL;DR

This paper provides an overview of the physics behind neutrinoless double beta decay, its significance for understanding neutrino properties, and the experimental challenges in detecting this rare process.

Contribution

It offers a comprehensive primer on the theoretical foundations, methods to distinguish Majorana from Dirac neutrinos, and summarizes current experimental efforts.

Findings

Neutrinoless double beta decay would confirm neutrinos are Majorana particles.

The decay rate is connected to neutrino mass and mixing parameters.

Current experiments face significant challenges in detecting this rare decay.

Abstract

Neutrinoless double beta decay is a hypothetical radioactive process which, if observed, would prove the neutrino to be a Majorana fermion: a particle that is its own antiparticle. In this lecture mini-series I discuss the physics of Majorana fermions and the connection between the nature of neutrino mass and neutrinoless double beta decay. We review Dirac and Majorana spinors, discuss methods of distinguishing between Majorana and Dirac fermions, and derive in outline the connection between neutrino mass and double beta decay rates. We conclude by briefly summarizing the experimental landscape and the challenges associated with searches for this elusive process.