RECENT PROGRESS IN DOUBLE BETA DECAY

Abstract

At least one neutrino has a mass of about 50 meV or larger. However, the absolute mass scale for the neutrino remains unknown. Studies of double beta decay offer hope for determining the absolute mass scale. Furthermore, the critical question "Is the neutrino its own antiparticle?" is unanswered. In particular, zero-neutrino double beta decay (0 νββ) can address the issues of lepton number conservation, the particle–antiparticle nature of the neutrino, and its mass. A summary of the recent progress in 0 νββ, and the related technologies will be discussed in the context of the future 0 νββ program.