Neutrinoless Double-Beta Decay

摘要

This paper introduces the neutrinoless double-beta decay (the rarest nuclear weak process) anddescribes the status of the research for this transition, both from the point of view of theoreticalnuclear physics and in terms of the present and future experimental scenarios. Implications of thisphenomenon on crucial aspects of particle physics are briefly discussed. The calculations of the nuclearmatrix elements in case of mass mechanisms are reviewed, and a range for these quantities is proposedfor the most appealing candidates. After introducing general experimental concepts—such as thechoice of the best candidates, the different proposed technological approaches, and the sensitivity—we make the point on the experimental situation. Searches running or in preparation are described, providing an organic presentation which picks up similarities and differences. A critical comparison ofthe adopted technologies and of their physics reach (in terms of sensitivity to the effective Majorananeutrino mass) is performed. As a conclusion, we try to envisage what we expect round the cornerand at a longer time scale.