First Evidence for Neutronless Double Beta Decay - New Physics
Beyond the Standard Model

H.V. Klapdor-Kleingrothaus, P-23

Double beta decay is one of the rarest nuclear decay modes and is under investigation already for more than sixty years. The neutrinoless mode is of particular interest since it would violate lepton number and its occurrence would determine the neutrino to be a Majorana particle.

Double beta decay experiments are indispensable to solve the structure of the neutrino mass matrix. They further probe, complementary to high energy colliders, other fields of beyond standard model physics.

The present experimental status is reviewed including the recent evidence for the neutrinoless decay mode from the Heidelberg-Moscow experiment.
Future perspectives are discussed.

The P/T Colloquium is
typically held each
Thursday, 3:45–5:00 PM.
Refreshments are served
at 3:15 PM.