Double beta decay experiments

The present status of double beta decay experiments is reviewed. The results of the most sensitive experiments are discussed. Proposals for future double beta decay experiments with a sensitivity to the 〈m _ν〉 at the level of (0.01–0.1) eV are considered.     

Neutrino-less double beta decay experiments

The observation of neutrinoless double beta decay would unambiguosly demonstrate that neutrinos are Majorana particles and would provide unique information about the ordering and absolute scale of neutrino masses. This very rare decay is actively searched for in a number of candidate isotopes. It violates lepton-number and is predicted by many extensions of the standard model. The most recent experimental results are reviewed. The technological advances and the most compelling requirements for the new generation of experiments are discussed.     

Higgs decay into two photons in a warped extra dimension

A detailed five-dimensional calculation of the Higgs-boson decay into two photons is performed in both the minimal and the custodially protected Randall–Sundrum (RS) model, where the Standard Model (SM) fields propagate in the bulk and the scalar sector lives on or near the IR brane. It is explicitly shown that the $R_\xi $ gauge invariance of the sum of diagrams involving bosonic fields in the SM also applies to the case of these RS scenarios. An exact expression for the $h\rightarrow \gamma \gamma $ amplitude in terms of the five-dimensional (5D) gauge-boson and fermion propagators is presented, which includes the full dependence on the Higgs-boson mass. Closed expressions for the 5D $W$ -boson propagators in the minimal and the custodial RS model are derived, which are valid to all orders in $v^2/M_{\text {KK}}^2$ . In contrast to the fermion case, the result for the bosonic contributions to the $h\rightarrow \gamma \gamma $ amplitude is insensitive to the details of the localization of the Higgs profile on or near the IR brane. The various RS predictions for the rate of the $pp\rightarrow h\rightarrow \gamma \gamma $ process are compared with the latest LHC data, and exclusion regions for the RS model parameters are derived.     

Ion detection from beta decay and two-body decay experiments with laser-cooled atoms

Localized and cold samples of atoms produced with laser cooling and trapping techniques are a powerful tool for nuclear β-decay experiments. Recently we have concentrated on measurements of the momentum of the daughter ion produced, which leads to a variety of new observables. Angular distributions of the recoils with respect to the nuclear spin in β ⁺ decay are sensitive to non-standard model interactions. Measurements of the momentum of monoenergetic recoils from either electron capture or isomer γ decay would make it possible to search for particles with masses of 10s of keV.      

Quantum simulation of an extra dimension

We present a general strategy to simulate a D+1-dimensional quantum system using a D-dimensional one. We analyze in detail a feasible implementation of our scheme using optical lattice technology. The simplest nontrivial realization of a fourth dimension corresponds to the creation of a bi-volume geometry. We also propose single- and many-particle experimental signatures to detect the effects of the extra dimension.     

CdWO4 crystal scintillators from enriched isotopes for double beta decay experiments

Cadmium tungstate crystal scintillators enriched in ¹⁰⁶Cd and ¹¹⁶Cd were developed. The produced scintillators exhibit good optical and scintillation properties, and a low level of radioactive contamination. Experiments to search for double beta decay of ¹⁰⁶Cd and ¹¹⁶Cd are in progress at the Gran Sasso National Laboratories of the INFN (Italy). Prospects to further improve the radiopurity of the detectors by recrystallization are discussed.     

CKM pattern from localized generations in extra dimension

We revisit the issue of the quark masses and mixing angles in the framework of large extra dimension. We consider three identical standard model families resulting from higher-dimensional fields localized on different branes embedded in a large extra dimension. Furthermore we use a decaying profile in the bulk different form previous works. With the Higgs field also localized on a different brane, the hierarchy of masses between the families results from their different positions in the extra space. When the left-handed doublet and the right-handed singlets are localized with different couplings on the branes, we found a set of brane locations in one extra dimension which leads to the correct quark masses and mixing angles with the sufficient strength of CP-violation. We see that the decaying profile of the Higgs field plays a crucial role for producing the hierarchies in a rather natural way.     

Z boson decay to photon plus Kaluza–Klein graviton: large extra dimensional bounds

We consider the phenomenology of the decay of a Z boson into a photon and a Kaluza–Klein excitation of the graviton in the ADD model. Using LEP data, we obtain an upper bound on the branching ratio corresponding to this process of ∼10^-11. We also investigate energy profiles of the process. PACS 04.50.+h; 11.25.Mj; 12.15.-y; 12.38.Qk; 13.38.Dg     

Majorana neutrinos from inverse seesaw in warped extra dimension

We propose the inverse seesaw mechanism as a way to understand small Majorana masses for neutrinos in warped extra dimension models with seesaw scale in the TeV range. The ultra-small lepton number violation needed in implementing inverse seesaw mechanism in 4D models is explained in this model as a consequence of lepton number breaking occurring on the Planck brane. We construct realistic models based on this idea that fit observed neutrino oscillation data for both normal and inverted mass patterns. We compute the corrections to light neutrino masses from the Kaluza-Klein modes and show that they are small in the parameter range of interest. Another feature of the model is that the absence of global parity anomaly implies the existence of at least one light sterile neutrino with sterile and active neutrino mixing in the range suggested by the LSND and MiniBooNE observations.     

A large Hilbert space QRPA and RQRPA calculation of neutrinoless double beta decay

A large Hilbert space is used for the calculation of the nuclear matrix elements governing the light neutrino mass mediated mode of neutrinoless double beta decay (Ovββ-decay) of⁷⁶ Ge,¹⁰⁰ Mo,¹¹⁶ Cd,¹²⁸ Te, and¹³⁶ Xe within the proton-neutron quasiparticle random phase approximation (pn-QRPA) and the renormalized QRPA with proton-neutron pairing (full-RQRPA) methods. We have found that the nuclear matrix elements obtained with the standard pn-QRPA for several nuclear transitions are extremely sensitive to the renormalization of the particle-particle component of the residual interaction of the nuclear hamiltonian. Therefore the standard pn-QRPA does not guarantee the necessary accuracy to allow us to extract a reliable limit on the effective neutrino mass. This behavior already known from the calculation of the two-neutrino double beta decay matrix elements, manifests itself in the neutrinoless double-beta decay but only if a large model space is used. The full-RQRPA, which takes into account proton-neutron pairing and considers the Pauli principle in an approximate way, offers a stable solution in the physically acceptable region of the particle-particle strength. In this way more accurate values on the effective neutrino mass have been deduced from the experimental lower limits of the half-lifes of neutrinoless double beta decay.     

The Higgs in large extra dimensions

Transverse (submillimeter) and longitudinal (TeV) extra dimensions can help in dealing with the Higgs hierarchy problem. On the one hand large transverse dimensions can lower the fundamental scale of quantum gravity from the Planck scale to the TeV range. On the other hand longitudinal dimensions can provide genuine extra-dimensional symmetries (higher dimensional gauge symmetry and/or supersymmetry) to protect the Higgs mass against ultraviolet sensitivity. In this article we review recent developments along these directions. To cite this article: K. Benakli, M. Quirós, C. R. Physique 4 (2003).     

Bremsstrahlung spectrum in beta decay

The spectrum of the bremsstrahlung due to the complete slowing down in aluminium of beta particles belonging to the continuous spectrum, was calculated for an arrangement, in which the beta emitter is completely enclosed in an absorber. The Bethe-Heitler cross-section, corrected by an empirical factor, was used. A table is given which makes it possible to calculate bremsstrahlung spectra of beta emitters with their maximal energy between 0·6 MeV and 2·0 MeV; the necessary additional calculations are quite simple. The error in the calculation is practically determined by the uncertainty in the determination of the cross-section and is equal to about 10%.

---

-

, - , , - . -, . , -, 0,6 –2,0 . . 10%.

     

Dark matter as a localized scalar in the extra dimension

We consider a standard model singlet which is accessible to a single extra dimension and its zero mode is localized with Gaussian profile around a point different from the origin. This zero-mode scalar is a possible candidate for the dark matter and its annihilation rate is sensitive to the compactification radius of the extra dimension, the localization width and the position. For the case of non-resonant annihilation, we estimated the dark matter scalar location around a point, at a distance ∼3× localization width from the origin, by using the annihilation rate which is based on the current relic density.     

Precision measurements in nuclear beta decay

Precision measurements in nuclear beta decay provide sensitive means to determine the fundamental coupling of charged fermions to weak bosons and to test discrete symmetries in the weak interaction. The main motivation of such measurements is to find deviations from Standard Model predictions as possible indications of new physics. I focus here on two topics related to precision measurements in beta decay, namely: (i) the determination of the V _ud element of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa quark mixing matrix from nuclear mirror transitions and (ii) selected measurements of time reversal violating correlations in nuclear and neutron decays. These topics complement those presented in other contributions to this conference.     

On a reinterpretation of decay experiments

Discussion of the basic formula conventionally used to interpret decay measurements shows that it is incompatible with the accepted physical interpretation of quantum mechanics. Two alternative theoretical correlates of the actual experiments are discussed. The first assumes a sequence of observations performed on the same object, each causing a collapse of the wave function. The second theory constructs a time-of-sojourn operator on the assumption that the protracted interaction between object and measurement apparatus is “gentle.” The first theoretical formula is developed with the result that the decay probability shows an asymptotic decrease which is at least exponential, contrary to the conventional theory.     

Langmuir decay instability cascade in laser-plasma experiments

Thomson scattering has been used to investigate the nonlinear evolution of electron plasma waves (EPWs) generated by stimulated Raman scattering (SRS). Two complementary diagnostics demonstrate the occurrence of the cascade of Langmuir decay instabilities (LDI). The EPW wave-number spectrum displays an asymmetric broadening towards small wave numbers, interpreted as a signature of the secondary EPWs produced in the LDI cascade. The number of cascade steps is in agreement with the broadening of the associated ion-acoustic-waves' spectra. The total energy transferred in the EPWs cascade is found to be either less than or of the same order of magnitude as the energy of the primary EPW.