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Recent Advances in Double Beta Decay Investigations: In Honor of Prof. Sabin Stoica at His 70th Anniversary

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A special issue of Universe (ISSN 2218-1997). This special issue belongs to the section "High Energy Nuclear and Particle Physics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 14237

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Prof. Dr. Mihai Horoi

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Department of Physics, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859, USA
Interests: nuclear structure; double beta decay; computational physics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Hiro Ejiri

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RCNP, Osaka University, 1-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
Interests: nuclear structure; double beta decay; computational physics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Andrei Neacsu

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International Center for Advanced Training and Research in Physics, 077125 Magurele, Romania
Interests: nuclear structure; double beta decay; computational physics
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Dear Colleagues,

Double-beta decay is one of the current research topics of great interest due its potential to unravel key unknown information on a broad range of issues including violation of conservation laws, fundamental properties of neutrinos, various lepton number violating mechanisms that could contribute to neutrinoless double-beta decay.

The experimental efforts aim at the deployment of large-scale experiments with large masses of active isotopes that increase the sensitivity, reduce the background contributions and improve the technical performance of the measurements. The so-called "tonne-phase" searches will attain sensitivities for neutrinoless double beta decay half-lives of the order of 10^27-28 years, which would reach the inverted mass hierarchy region for the effective Majorana mass parameter. The discovery of neutrinoless double beta decay, or measurement of any improved limit of its half-life, can be used to constrain the absolute neutrino mass scale and various possible mechanisms that can contribute to this decay mode. Additionally, from an accurate analysis of the emitted electron spectra, signatures of Lorentz invariance violations are searched as well.

On the theoretical side, there is a continuous effort to provide precise calculations to support the data analysis and interpretation. The main challenge remains the computation of the nuclear matrix elements whose values still differ too much among different methods, thus affecting the decay rate predictions and the constraint of different lepton violation mechanisms. New methods and techniques are recently developed, from phenomenological approaches to ab initio methods. In addition, experimental studies of single beta decays, muon captures, and charge exchange reactions are used to improve theoretical calculations for the double-beta decay nuclear matrix elements. Additionally, precise calculations of the electron spectra and their angular correlations are used to search for new physics beyond the Standard Model.

In this research topic volume we aim to gather relevant results in the double-beta decay field. Submissions can be recent research and theoretical or experimental reviews.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Symmetry [ISSN 2073-8994, SCIE Indexed, IF 2.940].

Prof. Dr. Mihai Horoi
Prof. Dr. Hiro Ejiri
Dr. Andrei Neacsu
Guest Editors

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Universe is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

neutrino physics
double beta decays
nuclear structure
weak interaction
beta decays

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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12 pages, 1322 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Improved Statistical Analysis for the Neutrinoless Double-Beta Decay Matrix Element of ¹³⁶Xe

by Mihai Horoi

Universe 2024, 10(6), 252; https://doi.org/10.3390/universe10060252 - 4 Jun 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 593

Abstract

Neutrinoless double beta decay nuclear matrix element (

M_{0 ν}

) for ¹³⁶Xe was recently analyzed using a statistical approach (Phys. Rev. C 107, 045501 (2023)). In the analysis, three initial shell model effective Hamiltonians were randomly altered, and their [...] Read more.

Neutrinoless double beta decay nuclear matrix element (

M_{0 ν}

M_{0 ν}

nuclear matrix element (NME) based on a Bayesian Model Averaging approach. In that analysis, a reasonable Gamow-Teller quenching factor of 0.7 was assumed for each starting effective Hamiltonian. Given that the result of the statistical analysis was sensible to this choice, we are here improving that analysis by assuming that the Gamow-Teller quenching factor is also randomly chosen within reasonabe limits for all three starting Hamiltonians. The outcomes are slightly higher expectation values and uncertainties for the

M_{0 ν}

NME. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Double Beta Decay Investigations: In Honor of Prof. Sabin Stoica at His 70th Anniversary)

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38 pages, 6475 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Theory of Majorana-Type Heavy Ion Double Charge Exchange Reactions by Pion–Nucleon Isotensor Interactions

by Horst Lenske, Jessica Bellone, Maria Colonna and Danilo Gambacurta

Universe 2024, 10(5), 202; https://doi.org/10.3390/universe10050202 - 30 Apr 2024

Viewed by 863

Abstract

The theory of heavy ion double charge exchange (DCE) reactions proceeding by effective rank-2 isotensor interactions is presented. Virtual pion–nucleon charge exchange interactions are investigated as the source for induced isotensor interactions, giving rise to the Majorana DCE (MDCE) reaction mechanism. MDCE is [...] Read more.

π^{\pm}, π^{\mp}

) reactions in the projectile and target nucleus. The dynamics of the elementary processes is discussed, where the excitation of pion–nucleon resonances are of central importance. Investigations of initial and final state ion–ion interactions show that these effects are acting as vertex renormalizations. In closure approximation, well justified by the finite pion mass, the second-order transition matrix elements reduce to pion potentials and effective two-body isotensor DCE interactions, giving rise also to two-body correlations in either of the participating nuclei. Connections to neutrinoless Majorana double beta decay (MDBD) are elucidated at various levels of the dynamics, from the underlying fundamental electro-weak and QCD scales to the physical scales of nuclear MDBD and MDCE physics. It is pointed out that heavy ion MDCE reactions may also proceed by competing electro-weak charge exchange processes, leading to lepton MDCE by electrons, positrons, and neutrinos. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Double Beta Decay Investigations: In Honor of Prof. Sabin Stoica at His 70th Anniversary)

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26 pages, 643 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Re-Examination of the Effect of Pairing Gaps on Gamow–Teller Strength Distributions and β-Decay Rates

by Jameel-Un Nabi, Muhammad Riaz and Arslan Mehmood

Universe 2024, 10(3), 128; https://doi.org/10.3390/universe10030128 - 6 Mar 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1247

Abstract

β

-decay is one of the key factors for understanding the r-process and evolution of massive stars. The Gamow–Teller (GT) transitions drive the

β

-decay process. We employ the proton–neutron quasiparticle random phase approximation (pn-QRPA) model to calculate terrestrial and stellar

β

[...] Read more.

β

-decay is one of the key factors for understanding the r-process and evolution of massive stars. The Gamow–Teller (GT) transitions drive the

β

-decay process. We employ the proton–neutron quasiparticle random phase approximation (pn-QRPA) model to calculate terrestrial and stellar

β

-decay rates for 50 top-ranked nuclei possessing astrophysical significance according to a recent survey. The model parameters of the pn-QRPA model affect the predicted results of

β

-decay. The current study investigates the effect of nucleon–nucleon pairing gaps on charge-changing transitions and the associated

β

decay rates. Three different values of pairing gaps, namely TF, 3TF, and 5TF, were used in our investigation. It was concluded that both GT strength distributions and half-lives are sensitive to pairing gap values. The 3TF pairing gap scheme, in our chosen nuclear model, resulted in the best prediction with around 80% of the calculated half-lives within a factor 10 of the measured ones. The 3TF pairing scheme also led to the calculation of the biggest

β

-decay rates in stellar matter. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Double Beta Decay Investigations: In Honor of Prof. Sabin Stoica at His 70th Anniversary)

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15 pages, 458 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Systematic Study of Two-Neutrino Double Electron Capture

by Ovidiu Niţescu, Stefan Ghinescu, Sabin Stoica and Fedor Šimkovic

Universe 2024, 10(2), 98; https://doi.org/10.3390/universe10020098 - 17 Feb 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1431

Abstract

In this paper, we update the phase-space factors for all two-neutrino double electron capture processes. The Dirac–Hartree–Fock–Slater self-consistent method is employed to describe the bound states of captured electrons, enabling a more realistic treatment of atomic screening and more precise binding energies of [...] Read more.

L_{1}

orbitals considered in prior studies. For light atoms, the increase associated with additional captures compensates for the decrease in decay rate caused by the more precise atomic screening. However, for medium and heavy atoms, an increase in the decay rate, up to 10% for the heaviest atoms, is observed due to the combination of these two effects. In the systematic analysis, we also include capture fractions for the first few dominant partial captures. Our precise model enables a close examination of low Q-value double electron capture in ¹⁵²Gd, ¹⁶⁴Er, and ²⁴²Cm, where partial

K K

captures are energetically forbidden. Finally, with the updated phase-space values, we recalculate the effective nuclear matrix elements and compare their spread with those associated with

2 ν β^{-} β^{-}

decay. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Double Beta Decay Investigations: In Honor of Prof. Sabin Stoica at His 70th Anniversary)

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15 pages, 419 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integral Fluxes of Neutrinos and Gamma-Rays Emitted from Neighboring X-ray Binaries

by Odysseas Kosmas, Theodora Papavasileiou and Theocharis Kosmas

Universe 2023, 9(12), 517; https://doi.org/10.3390/universe9120517 - 15 Dec 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1522

Abstract

Astrophysical plasma ejections (jets) are formed and powered by black holes that accrete material from their companion star in binary systems. Black hole X-ray binary systems constitute potential powerful galactic and extragalactic neutrino and gamma-ray sources. After being accelerated to highly relativistic velocities and subjected to various energy-consuming interactions, the lepto-hadronic content of the jets produces secondary particles such as pions and muons that decay to gamma-ray photons and neutrinos heading towards the Earth. In this work, we employ a jet emission model in order to predict the neutrino and gamma-ray integral fluxes emanating from some of the most investigated and prominent stellar black hole X-ray binary systems in the Milky Way, such as GRO J1655-40, Cygnus X-1, SS 433, and GRS 1915+105. For the sake of comparison, we also include an extragalactic system, namely, LMC X-1, located in the Large Magellanic Cloud. For the case of gamma-ray emissions, we also include absorption effects due to X-ray emission from the accretion disk and the black hole corona, as well as ultraviolet (UV) emission from the binary system’s companion star. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Double Beta Decay Investigations: In Honor of Prof. Sabin Stoica at His 70th Anniversary)

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15 pages, 534 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Spin-Dependent Short-Range Correlations on Nuclear Matrix Elements for Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay of ⁴⁸Ca

by Shahariar Sarkar and Yoritaka Iwata

Universe 2023, 9(10), 444; https://doi.org/10.3390/universe9100444 - 3 Oct 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1541

Abstract

Neutrinoless double beta decay is a pivotal weak nuclear process that holds the potential to unveil the Majorana nature of neutrinos and predict their absolute masses. In this study, we delve into examining the impact of spin-dependent short-range correlations (SRCs) on the nuclear [...] Read more.

0 ν β β

) decay of

^{48}

Ca, employing an extensive interacting nuclear shell model. All computations are performed employing the effective shell model Hamiltonian GXPF1A, encompassing the entire

f p

model space through the closure approximation. Our investigation examines the NMEs’ dependencies on factors such as the number of intermediate states, coupled spin-parity attributes of neutrons and protons, neutrino momentum, inter-nucleon separation, and closure energy. This scrutiny is performed with respect to both the conventional Jastrow-type approach of SRCs, employing various parameterizations, and the spin-dependent SRC paradigm. Our findings illuminate a discernible distinction in NMEs induced by spin-dependent SRCs, differing by approximately 10–20% from those computed through the conventional Jastrow-type SRCs, incorporating distinct parameterizations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Double Beta Decay Investigations: In Honor of Prof. Sabin Stoica at His 70th Anniversary)

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14 pages, 813 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Silicon Photomultipliers for Neutrino Telescopes

by Diego Real and David Calvo

Universe 2023, 9(7), 326; https://doi.org/10.3390/universe9070326 - 10 Jul 2023

Viewed by 1175

Abstract

Neutrino astronomy has opened a new window to the extreme Universe, entering into a fruitful era built upon the success of neutrino telescopes, which have already given a new step forward in this novel and growing field by the first observation of steady point-like sources already achieved by IceCube. Neutrino telescopes equipped with Silicon PhotoMultipliers (SiPMs) will significantly increase in number, because of their excellent time resolution and the angular resolution, and will be in better condition to detect more steady sources as well as the unexpected. The use of SiPMs represents a challenge to the acquisition electronics because of the fast signals as well as the high levels of dark noise produced by SiPMs. The acquisition electronics need to include a noise rejection scheme by implementing a coincidence filter between channels. This work discusses the advantages and disadvantages of using SiPMs for the next generation of neutrino telescopes, focusing on the possible developments that could help for their adoption in the near future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Double Beta Decay Investigations: In Honor of Prof. Sabin Stoica at His 70th Anniversary)

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7 pages, 238 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

The Neutrino Mass Problem: From Double Beta Decay to Cosmology

by Osvaldo Civitarese

Universe 2023, 9(6), 275; https://doi.org/10.3390/universe9060275 - 7 Jun 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1042

Abstract

The neutrino is perhaps the most elusive member of the particle zoo. The questions about its nature, namely: Dirac or Majorana, the value of its mass and the interactions with other particles, the number of its components including sterile species, are long standing ones and still remain to a large extent without conclusive answers. From the side of the nuclear structure and nuclear reactions, both theories and experiments, the need to elucidate these questions has, and still has, prompt crucial developments in the fields of double beta decay, double charge exchange and neutrino induced reactions. The measurements of neutrino flavor oscillation parameters contribute largely to restrict models with massless neutrinos. From the particle physics side, the possibilities to extend the standard model of electroweak interactions to incorporate a right-handed sector of the electroweak Lagrangian are directly linked to the adopted neutrino model. Here, I would like to address another aspect of the problem by asking the question of the neutrino mass mechanism in the cosmological context, and particularly about dark matter. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Double Beta Decay Investigations: In Honor of Prof. Sabin Stoica at His 70th Anniversary)

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13 pages, 613 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ordinary Muon Capture on ¹³⁶Ba: Comparative Study Using the Shell Model and pnQRPA

by Patricia Gimeno, Lotta Jokiniemi, Jenni Kotila, Marlom Ramalho and Jouni Suhonen

Universe 2023, 9(6), 270; https://doi.org/10.3390/universe9060270 - 5 Jun 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1378

Abstract

In this work, we present a study of ordinary muon capture (OMC) on

^{136}

Ba, the daughter nucleus of

^{136}

Xe double beta decay (DBD). The OMC rates at low-lying nuclear states (below 1 MeV of excitation energy) in

^{136}

Cs are assessed [...] Read more.

In this work, we present a study of ordinary muon capture (OMC) on

^{136}

Ba, the daughter nucleus of

^{136}

Xe double beta decay (DBD). The OMC rates at low-lying nuclear states (below 1 MeV of excitation energy) in

^{136}

Cs are assessed by using both the interacting shell model (ISM) and proton–neutron quasiparticle random-phase approximation (pnQRPA). We also add chiral two-body (2BC) meson-exchange currents and use an exact Dirac wave function for the captured s-orbital muon. OMC can be viewed as a complementary probe of the wave functions in

^{136}

Cs, the intermediate nucleus of the

^{136}

Xe DBD. At the same time, OMC can be considered a powerful probe of the effective values of weak axial-type couplings in a 100 MeV momentum exchange region, which is relevant for neutrinoless DBD. The present work represents the first attempt to compare the ISM and pnQRPA results for OMC on a heavy nucleus while also including the exact muon wave function and the 2BC. The sensitivity estimates of the current and future neutrinoless DBD experiments will clearly benefit from future OMC measurements taken using OMC calculations similar to the one presented here. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Double Beta Decay Investigations: In Honor of Prof. Sabin Stoica at His 70th Anniversary)

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Review

Jump to: Research

10 pages, 679 KiB

Open AccessReview

Neutrino Masses and Right-Handed Weak Currents Studied by Neutrino-Less ββ-Decay Detectors

by Saori Umehara and Hiroyasu Ejiri

Universe 2024, 10(6), 247; https://doi.org/10.3390/universe10060247 - 3 Jun 2024

Viewed by 704

Abstract

Detecting neutrino-less double beta (

0 ν β β

) decay with high-sensitivity

0 ν β β

detectors is of current interest for studying the Majorana neutrino’s nature, the neutrino mass (

ν

-mass), right-handed weak currents (RHCs), and others beyond the Standard [...] Read more.

Detecting neutrino-less double beta (

0 ν β β

) decay with high-sensitivity

0 ν β β

detectors is of current interest for studying the Majorana neutrino’s nature, the neutrino mass (

ν

-mass), right-handed weak currents (RHCs), and others beyond the Standard Model. Many experimental groups have studied

0 ν β β

decay with

ν

-mass sensitivities on the order of 100 meV and RHC sensitivities on the order of 10

^{- 9}

–10

^{- 6}

, but no clear

0 ν β β

signals have been observed so far in these

ν

-mass and RHC regions. Thus, several experimental groups are developing higher-sensitivity detectors to explore a smaller

ν

-mass region around 15–50 meV, which corresponds to the inverted hierarchy

ν

-mass, and smaller RHC regions on the order of 10

^{- 10}

–10

^{- 7}

in the near future. Nuclear matrix elements (NMEs) for

ν

-mass and RHC processes are crucial for extracting the

ν

-mass and RHCs of particle physics interest from

0 ν β β

experiments. This report briefly reviews detector sensitivities and upper limits on the

ν

-mass and right-handed currents for several current

0 ν β β

detectors and the

ν

-mass and RHC sensitivities expected for some near-future ones. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Double Beta Decay Investigations: In Honor of Prof. Sabin Stoica at His 70th Anniversary)

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13 pages, 544 KiB

Open AccessReview

Double Beta Decay Experiments: Recent Achievements and Future Prospects

by Alexander Barabash

Universe 2023, 9(6), 290; https://doi.org/10.3390/universe9060290 - 15 Jun 2023

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1477

Abstract

The results of experiments on the search for and study of double beta decay processes obtained over the past 5 years (from 2018 to April 2023) are discussed. The results of the search for neutrinoless double beta decay are presented, in which a [...] Read more.

T_{1 / 2} \sim 2 \times 10^{24}

–

2 \times 10^{26}

years (90% C.L.) has been achieved. The present conservative upper limit on effective Majorana neutrino mass

⟨ m_{ν} ⟩

was established from these experiments as 0.16 eV (90% C.L.). The results of experiments on recording and studying the processes of two-neutrino double beta decay in various nuclei (transitions to both the ground and excited states of daughter nuclei) are discussed too. The results of experiments on the search for majoron are also given. Possible progress in this field in the future is discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Double Beta Decay Investigations: In Honor of Prof. Sabin Stoica at His 70th Anniversary)

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