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Status and Perspectives of Double Beta Decay Searches
Kai Zuber (TU Dresden)
Seminar Room 3, 15:00
Double beta decay is a very rare nuclear decay process in nature
characterised by changing the ordering number Z by two units and
leaving the mass number A constant. It can basically occur in two
modes, with the emission of two electrons and two anti-neutrinos or
the emission of two electrons only. While the first mode is expected
within the current Standard Model, the neutrinoless double beta decay
of nuclei is not allowed and is of outstanding importance for neutrino
physics. It can only occur if a neutrino is its own antiparticle and
if it is massive. Especially for the first property double beta decay
is considered as gold-plated process. However, due to the known
smallness of the neutrino mass, the process is very rare and requires
special low radioactive background environments.
After a general introduction into double beta decay, the seminar
focusses on the current experimental searches and results and their
implications for particle physics. An outlook towards future projects
and the involved challenges is given, including a discussion on
nuclear matrix elements and possible supporting experimental
activities.
