Double beta decay

Szeminárium Double beta decay
Előadó

Kai Zuber MTA vendégprofesszor

TU Dresden, Germany, and MTA Atomki
Kapcsolattartó Dr. Fülöp Zsolt
Időpont 2018-10-09 11:00
Helyszín MTA Atomki, nagyelőadó (Debrecen, Bem tér 18/c, XII. épület 3. emelet)
Esemény leírása

Double beta decay is a very rare 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 neutrinos are its own antiparticle and if they are 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 lecture 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 short discussion on nuclear matrix elements.