Long-distance nuclear matrix elements for neutrinoless double-beta decay from lattice QCD
Journal Article
·
· Physical Review. D.
- University of Maryland; Joint Center for Quantum Information and Computer Science
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology; The NSF Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Fundamental Interactions
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
- Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
Neutrinoless double-beta (0β’πβ’π½β’π½) decay is a heretofore unobserved process which, if observed, would imply that neutrinos are Majorana particles. Interpretations of the stringent experimental constraints on 0β’πβ’π½β’π½-decay half-lives require calculations of nuclear matrix elements. This work presents the first lattice quantum chromodynamics (LQCD) calculation of the matrix element for 0β’πβ’π½β’π½ decay in a multinucleon system, specifically the πβ’π β πβ’πβ’πβ’π transition, mediated by a light left-handed Majorana neutrino propagating over nuclear-scale distances. This calculation is performed with quark masses corresponding to a pion mass of ππ = 806 MeV at a single lattice spacing and volume. The statistically cleaner Ξ£β β Ξ£+β’πβ’π transition is also computed in order to investigate various systematic uncertainties. The prospects for matching the results of LQCD calculations onto a nuclear effective field theory to determine a leading-order low-energy constant relevant for 0β’πβ’π½β’π½ decay with a light Majorana neutrino are investigated. This work, therefore, sets the stage for future calculations at physical values of the quark masses that, combined with effective field theory and nuclear many-body studies, will provide controlled theoretical inputs to experimental searches of 0β’πβ’π½β’π½ decay.
- Research Organization:
- Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States); IAIFI, Cambridge; MIT, Cambridge, CTP; Maryland U.; Maryland U., College Park; Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- National Science Foundation (NSF); US Department of Energy; USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Nuclear Physics (NP)
- Contributing Organization:
- NPLQCD Collaboration
- Grant/Contract Number:
- 89243024CSC000002; AC02-07CH11359; SC0011090; SC0020271; SC0021006
- OSTI ID:
- 2376285
- Alternate ID(s):
- OSTI ID: 2571472
OSTI ID: 2323483
- Report Number(s):
- FERMILAB-PUB-24-0067-T; MIT-CTP/5682; UMD-PP-024-03
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review. D., Journal Name: Physical Review. D. Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 109; ISSN 2470-0010; ISSN 2470-0029
- Publisher:
- American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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