Phenomenology of neutrinoless double beta decay

TL;DR

This paper reviews various theoretical contributions to neutrinoless double beta decay, emphasizing its significance for physics beyond the standard model and the role of neutrino properties.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of mechanisms behind neutrinoless double beta decay and discusses the extended black box theorem linking decay to neutrino Majorana nature.

Findings

Mass mechanism linked to neutrino oscillations

Lower limit on right-handed W boson mass from models

Decay amplitude must include mass mechanism if neutrinos are Majorana

Abstract

Neutrinoless double beta decay violates lepton number by two units, a positive observation therefore necessarily implies physics beyond the standard model. Here, three possible contributions to neutrinoless double beta decay are briefly reviewed: (a) The mass mechanism and its connection to neutrino oscillations; (b) Left-right symmetric models and the lower limit on the right-handed W boson mass; and (c) R-parity violating supersymmetry. In addition, the recently published ``extended black box'' theorem is briefly discussed. Combined with data from oscillation experiments this theorem provides proof that the neutrinoless double beta decay amplitude must receive a non-zero contribution from the mass mechanism, if neutrinos are indeed Majorana particles.