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This review examines existing double beta decay experiments and explores future research potential.

January 1, 2015Open Access

Double Beta Decay Experiments: Present Status and Prospects for the Future

Key Points

This review examines existing double beta decay experiments and explores future research potential.
Reviewed experiments include EXO-200, KamLAND-Zen, GERDA-I, and CUORE-0.
Presented limits on neutrinoless double beta decay and double beta decay with Majoron emission.
Discussed future experiments aimed at achieving sensitivities to effective mass of Majorana neutrino.
Conservative limit on effective mass of Majorana neutrino is <mν> < 0.46 eV.
Best limit on coupling constant of Majoron to neutrino is <gee> < 1.3 × 10−5.
Future experiments may reach sensitivity levels for <mν> of approximately 0.01-0.1 eV.

Abstract

The review of modern experiments on search and studying of double beta decay processes is done. Results of the most sensitive current experiments are discussed. The main attention is paid to EXO-200, KamLAND-Zen, GERDA-I and CUORE-0 experiments. Modern values of T1/2(2ν) and best present limits on neutrinoless double beta decay and double beta decay with Majoron emission are presented. Conservative limits on effective mass of a Majorana neutrino ( at the level of ∼ (0.01-0.1) eV are discussed. The main attention is paid to experiments of CUORE, GERDA, MAJORANA, EXO, KamLAND-Zen-2, SuperNEMO and SNO+. Possibilities of low-temperature scintillating bolometers on the basis of inorganic crystals (ZnSe, ZnMoO4, Li2MoO4, CaMoO4 and CdWO4) are considered too.

Double Beta Decay Experiments: Present Status and Prospects for the Future

Key Points

Abstract

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