We test the effects of an approximate treatment of two-body contributions to the axial-vector current on the QRPA matrix elements for neutrinoless double-beta decay in a range of isotopes. The form and strength of the two-body terms come from chiral effective-field theory. The two-body currents typically reduce the matrix elements by about 20%, not as much as in shell-model calculations. One reason for the difference is that standard practice in the QRPA is to adjust the strength of the isoscalar pairing interaction to reproduce two-neutrino double-beta decay lifetimes. Another may be the larger QRPA single-particle space. Whatever the reasons, the effects on neutrinoless decay are significantly less than those on two-neutrino decay, both in the shell model and the QRPA.
We show that the correlations of the quasiparticle random-phase approximation (QRPA) significantly reduce the nuclear matrix element (NME) of neutrinoless double-beta decay by a new mechanism in the calculation for $^{150}$Nd $\rightarrow$ $^{150}$Sm. This effect is due mainly to the normalization factors of the QRPA ground states included in the overlap of intermediate states, to which the QRPA states based on the initial and final ground states are applied. These normalization factors arise according to the definition of the QRPA ground state as the vacuum of quasibosons. Our NME is close to…
It is possible to employ virtual decay paths, including two-particle transfer, to calculate the nuclear matrix element of neutrinoless double-beta decay under the closure approximation, in addition to the true double-beta path. In the quasiparticle random-phase approximation (QRPA) approach, it is necessary to introduce the product wave functions of the like-particle and proton-neutron QRPA ground states, for achieving consistency between the calculations of the true and virtual paths. Using these different paths, the problem of whether or not these two methods give equivalent nuclear matrix e…
Addendum to: QRPA uncertainties and their correlations in the analysis of neutrinoless double beta decay
在以前的文章[Phys. Rev. D 79，053001（2009）]中，我们在准粒子无规相位近似（QRPA）中估计了与无中微子双β衰变（0 nu β β）的核矩阵元（NME）相关的不确定性。这种估计包括最近对NME的独立计算，因此仍然可以提供核模型不确定性的公平代表。在这种情况下，我们比较了Ge-76中0 nu β β衰变的声明与最近在Ge-136和其他核中的负结果，并推断了在90% C. L.时允许或排除的寿命范围。我们还强调了一些问题，应加以解决，以适当地比较和结合来自不同的0 nu β β衰变候选核的结果。
Violation of the Ikeda sum rule and the self-consistency in the renormalized quasiparticle random phase approximation and the nuclear double-beta decay
The one-QRPA method is used to describe simultaneously both double decay beta modes, giving special attention to the partial restoration of spin-isospin SU(4) symmetry. To implement this restoration and to fix the model parameters, we resort to the energetics of Gamow-Teller resonances and to the minima of the single $β^+$-decay strengths. This makes the theory predictive regarding the $ββ_{2ν}$-decay, producing the $2ν$ moments in $^{48}$Ca, $^{76}$Ge, $^{82}$Se, $^{96}$Zr, $^{100}$Mo, $^{128,130}$Te, and $^{150}$Nd, that are of the same order of magnitude as the experimental ones; however, t…
Large-Scale Calculations of the Double-Beta Decay of 76Ge, 130Te, 136Xe, and 150Nd in the Deformed Self-Consistent Skyrme Quasiparticle Random-Phase Approximation
We decompose the neutrinoless double-beta decay matrix elements into sums of products over the intermediate nucleus with two less nucleons. We find that the sum is dominated by the J^pi=0^+ ground state of this intermediate nucleus for both the light and heavy neutrino decay processes. This provides a new theoretical tool for comparing and improving nuclear structure models. It also provides the connection to two-nucleon transfer experiments.
Statistical spectral distribution method based on shell model and random matrix theory is developed for calculating neutrinoless double beta decay nuclear transition matrix elements. First results obtained for $^{82}$Se and $^{76}$Ge using the spectral method are close to the available shell model results.
Nuclear matrix elements (NMEs) for neutrinoless double beta decays (DBDs) are required for studying neutrino physics beyond the standard model by DBD. The experimental spin-dipole (SD) giant resonance energy and the SD strength are shown for the first time to be closely related to the DBD-NME, and are used for studying the spin-isospin correlation and the quenching of the axial-vector coupling. So they are used to help the theoretical model calculation of the DBD-NME.
A comprehensive analysis of the structure of the nuclear matrix elements (NMEs) of neutrinoless double beta-minus decays to the 0^+ ground and first excited states is performed in terms of the contributing multipole states in the intermediate nuclei of neutrinoless double beta-minus transitions. We concentrate on the transitions mediated by the light (l-NMEs) Majorana neutrinos. As nuclear model we use the proton-neutron quasiparticle random-phase approximation (pnQRPA) with a realistic two-nucleon interaction based on the Bonn one-boson-exchange G matrix. In the computations we include the ap…
The nuclear matrix elements (NMEs) of the neutrinoless and two-neutrino double-$β$ decays of $^{48}$Ca are calculated by the quasiparticle random-phase approximation (QRPA) with emphasis on the consistency examinations of this calculation method. The main new examination points are the consistency of two ways to treat the intermediate-state energies in the two-neutrino double-$β$ NME and comparison with the experimental charge-exchange strength functions obtained from $^{48}$Ca$(p,n)$ and $^{48}$Ti$(n,p)$ reactions. No decisive problem preventing the QRPA approach is found. The obtained neutri…
The neutrinoless double-$β$ decay is a hypothetical rare nuclear decay, which can be used for determining the neutrino-mass scale. The scheme to use this decay for determining the neutrino-mass scale is one of few limited methods possible to determine that. Nuclear matrix element of this decay is an important input to this method, and this matrix element cannot be determined by experiment. I examine the validity of the transition density used for calculating the nuclear matrix element by comparing the experimental data and my calculated result of the charge-change strength functions of $^{48}$…
Heavy neutrino potential for neutrinoless double beta decay is studied with focusing on its statistical property. The existence condition for heavy neutrinos is also presented. In particular sterile neutrinos are possible candidate for heavy nuetrinos. The statistics provide a gross view of understanding amplitude of constitutional components of the nuclear matrix element.
Neutrinoless double beta decay can significantly help to shed light on the issue of non-zero neutrino mass, as observation of this lepton number violating process would imply neutrinos are Majorana particles. However, the underlying interaction does not have to be as simple as the standard neutrino mass mechanism. The entire variety of neutrinoless double beta decay mechanisms can be approached effectively. In this work we focus on a theoretical description of short-range effective contributions to neutrinoless double beta decay, which are equivalent to 9-dimensional effective operators incorp…
Neutrino potential for neutrinoless double beta decay is studied with focusing on its statistical property. The statistics provide a gross view of understanding amplitude of constitutional components of the nuclear matrix element.
We study the general phenomenology of neutrinoless double beta decay in seesaw models. In particular, we focus on the dependence of the neutrinoless double beta decay rate on the mass of the extra states introduced to account for the Majorana masses of light neutrinos. For this purpose, we compute the nuclear matrix elements as functions of the mass of the mediating fermions and estimate the associated uncertainties. We then discuss what can be inferred on the seesaw model parameters in the different mass regimes and clarify how the contribution of the light neutrinos should always be taken in…
We consider perturbative one loop QCD corrections to the light neutrino contribution to neutrinoless double beta decay and find large enhancement to the rate. QCD corrections also generate structures which mimic new physics contributions usually considered. Within some approximations, the net effect seem to almost saturate the experimental limits, and therefore seems to implt that this is all there is to neutrinoless double beta decay.
Weak interaction in nuclei represents a well-known venue for testing many of the fundamental symmetries of the Standard Model. In particular, neutrinoless double-beta decay offers the possibility to test Beyond Standard Model theories predicting that neutrinos are Majorana fermions and the lepton number conservation is violated. This paper focuses on an effective field theory approach to neutrinoless double-beta decay for extracting information regarding the properties of the Beyond Standard Model Lagrangian responsible for this process. We use shell model nuclear matrix elements and the lates…
