NEUTRINOLESS DOUBLE BETA DECAY

Abstract

Neutrinoless double beta decay (ββ(0ν)) is presently the only practical tool for probing the character of neutrinos. In case neutrinos are Majorana particles ββ(0ν) can provide also fundamental informations on their absolute mass scale. The present status of experiments searching for ββ(0ν) is reviewed and the most relevant results discussed. A possibility to observe ββ(0ν) at a neutrino mass scale in the range 10-50 meV looks possible according to our present knowledge of the neutrino masses and mixing parameters. A review of the future projects and of the most relevant parameters contributing to the experimental sensitivity iss finally outlined.