Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay: 2015 Review
Francesco Vissani (INFN, Gran Sasso Science Institute, Viale F. Crispi 7, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy, INFN, Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso, Via G. Acitelli 22, 67100 Assergi, Italy); Stefano Dell’Oro (INFN, Gran Sasso Science Institute, Viale F. Crispi 7, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy); Simone Marcocci (INFN, Gran Sasso Science Institute, Viale F. Crispi 7, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy); Matteo Viel (INAF, Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Via G. B. Tiepolo 11, 34131 Trieste, Italy, INFN, Sezione di Trieste, Via Valerio 2, 34127 Trieste, Italy)
The discovery of neutrino masses through the observation of oscillations boosted the importance of neutrinoless double beta decay (). In this paper, we review the main features of this process, underlining its key role from both the experimental and theoretical point of view. In particular, we contextualize the in the panorama of lepton number violating processes, also assessing some possible particle physics mechanisms mediating the process. Since the existence is correlated with neutrino masses, we also review the state of the art of the theoretical understanding of neutrino masses. In the final part, the status of current experiments is presented and the prospects for the future hunt for are discussed. Also, experimental data coming from cosmological surveys are considered and their impact on expectations is examined.
