0000000000178414

AUTHOR

Osvaldo Civitarese

Is the single-state dominance realized in double-β-decay transitions?

In the single-state-dominance hypothesis (SSDH) the decay rate of the two-neutrino double-\ensuremath{\beta} decay to the final ground state is solely determined by virtual single-\ensuremath{\beta}-decay transitions via the ${1}^{+}$ ground state of the intermediate nucleus. A very important consequence the SSDH will be that some of nonaccelerator measurements of double-\ensuremath{\beta}-decay observables could be circumvented by single-\ensuremath{\beta}-decay measurements. To assess the validity of the SSDH, we have carried out a theoretical analysis of all double-\ensuremath{\beta}-decay transitions where the spin-parity of the ground-state of the intermediate nucleus is ${1}^{+}$. The…

research product

Effects of orbital occupancies on the neutrinoless beta-beta matrix element of 76Ge

In this work we use the recently measured neutron occupancies in the 76Ge and 76Se nuclei as a guideline to define the neutron quasiparticle states in the 1p0f0g shell. We define the proton quasiparticles by inspecting the odd-mass nuclei adjacent to 76Ge and 76Se. We insert the resulting quasiparticles in a proton-neutron quasiparticle random-phase approximation (pnQRPA) calculation of the nuclear matrix element of the neutrinoless double beta (0-nu-beta-beta) decay of 76Ge. A realistic model space and effective microscopic two-nucleon interactions are used. We include the nucleon-nucleon short-range correlations and other relevant corrections at the nucleon level. It is found that the res…

research product

Schematic and realistic model calculations of the isovector spin monopole excitations in 116In

The excitation of Gamow-Teller (GT) and isovector spin monopole (IVSM) J π = 1+ modes in 116In by (p,n) and (n, p) charge-exchange reactions on 116Cd and on 116Sn, respectively, is studied within the framework of the quasiparticle random-phase approximation. The calculations have been performed both for schematic and realistic model situations. It appears that the calculated admixture of the IVSM and Gamow-Teller (GT) J π = 1+ excitations is negligible and that the contribution to the strength above 20 MeV of excitation energy, in 116In, is due to the IVSM (σr2t±) mode. This result is compared with the recent experimental work that reported a large amount of both (p,n) and (n,p) strength be…

research product

Nuclear matrix elements for double beta decay in the QRPA approach: a critical review

The calculation of nuclear matrix elements (NME) for double beta decay transitions (DBD) relies upon several approximations. The purpose of this note is to review some of these approximations, and their impact upon the NME. We shall present our results, which have been obtained in the framework of the proton-neutron quasiparticle random phase approximation (pnQRPA), and we shall focus on short range correlations, pairing, and symmetry effects.

research product

Short-range correlations and neutrinoless double beta decay

In this work we report on the effects of short-range correlations upon the matrix elements of neutrinoless double beta decay. We focus on the calculation of the matrix elements of the neutrino-mass mode of neutrinoless double beta decays of 48Ca and 76Ge. The nuclear-structure components of the calculation, that is the participant nuclear wave functions, have been calculated in the shell-model scheme for 48Ca and in the proton-neutron quasiparticle random-phase approximation (pnQRPA) scheme for 76Ge. We compare the traditional approach of using the Jastrow correlation function with the more complete scheme of the unitary correlation operator method (UCOM). Our results indicate that the Jast…

research product

Probing the quenching of gA by single and double beta decays

Abstract Ground-state-to-ground-state two-neutrino double beta ( 2 ν β β ) decays and single beta (EC and β − ) decays are studied for the A = 100 (100Mo 100Tc 100Ru), A = 116 (116Cd 116In 116Sn) and A = 128 (128Te 128I 128Xe) nuclear systems by using the proton–neutron quasiparticle random-phase approximation exploiting realistic effective interactions in very large single-particle bases. The aim of this exercise is to see if both the single-beta and double-beta decay observables related to the ground states of the initial, intermediate and final nuclei participant in the decays can be described simultaneously by changing the value of the axial-vector coupling constant g A . In spite of th…

research product

Strength ofJπ=1+Gamow-Teller and isovector spin monopole transitions in double-β-decay triplets

In this work we study systematically the energetics and intensity distributions of Gamow-Teller (GT${}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}$) and isovector spin monopole (IVSM${}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}$) transitions from the ground states of the pairs ($^{76}\mathrm{Ge}$,$^{76}\mathrm{Se}$), ($^{82}\mathrm{Se}$,$^{82}\mathrm{Kr}$), ($^{100}\mathrm{Mo}$,$^{100}\mathrm{Ru}$), ($^{116}\mathrm{Cd}$,$^{116}\mathrm{Sn}$), ($^{128}\mathrm{Te}$,$^{128}\mathrm{Xe}$), ($^{130}\mathrm{Te}$,$^{130}\mathrm{Xe}$), and ($^{136}\mathrm{Xe}$,$^{136}\mathrm{Ba}$), of double-beta-decay initial and final nuclei, to the ${J}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}={1}^{+}$ excited states of the intermediate odd-odd nuclei $^{76}\…

research product

Review of the properties of the 0νβ−β−nuclear matrix elements

In this work we investigate general properties of the nuclear matrix elements (NMEs) related to the neutrinoless double ?? decays (0????? decays) of several nuclei of interest for double-beta-decay experiments. A summary of the values of the NMEs calculated along the years by the Jyv?skyl??La Plata collaboration is given. These NMEs are compared with those of the other available calculations and general conclusions are drawn based on these comparisons.

research product

Simultaneous analysis of neutrinoless double beta decay and LHC pp-cross sections: limits on the left-right mixing angle

The extension of the Standard Model of electroweak interactions, to accommodate massive neutrinos and/or right-handed currents, is one of the fundamental questions to answer in the cross-field of particle and nuclear physics. The consequences of such extensions would reflect upon nuclear decays, like the very exotic nuclear double-beta-decay, as well as upon high-energy proton-proton reactions of the type performed at the LHC accelerator. In this talk we shall address this question by looking at the results reported by the ATLAS and CMS collaborations, where the excitation and decay of a heavy-mass boson may be mediated by a heavy-mass neutrino in proton-proton reactions leading to two jets…

research product

Light-neutrino mass spectrum, nuclear matrix elements, and the observability of neutrinoless ββ decay

Parameters which describe neutrino flavor oscillations and neutrino mixing mechanisms, obtained from the analysis of the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO), Super-Kamiokande (SK), CHOOZ, KamLAND and WMAP data, are used to calculate upper limits of the effective neutrino mass 〈mν〉 relevant for the neutrinoless double-beta decay (0νββ). The observability of planned 0νββ experiments, and the present status of the decay of 76Ge are discussed within different light-neutrino mass spectra and by presenting a systematics on the available nuclear matrix elements.

research product

Schematic and realistic model calculations of the isovector spin monopole excitations in 116In

The excitation of Gamow-Teller (GT) and isovector spin monopole (IVSM) Jπ=1+ modes in 116In by (p,n) and (n,p) charge-exchange reactions on 116Cd and on 116Sn, respectively, is studied within the framework of the quasiparticle random-phase approximation. The calculations have been performed both for schematic and realistic model situations. It appears that the calculated admixture of the IVSM and Gamow-Teller (GT) Jπ=1+ excitations is negligible and that the contribution to the strength above 20 MeV of excitation energy, in 116In, is due to the IVSM (σr2t ±) mode. This result is compared with the recent experimental work that reported a large amount of both (p,n) and (n,p) strength beyond 1…

research product

Two-neutrino ββ decay to excited states. The 0+ → 2+ decay of 136Xe

Abstract A method to calculate the two-neutrino double beta decay (2vββ) to one-phonon excited states is presented. The formalism, which is based on the quasiparticle random phase approximation, is applied to the description of the 2vββ transition 136Xe (0 g.e. + ) → 136 Ba (2 1 + ). It is shown that the participant matrix element is not suppressed by the inclusion of renormalized particle-particle interactions.

research product

Systematic study of the single-state dominance in 2νββ decay transitions

Abstract The single-state-dominance hypothesis (SSDH) states that the decay rates of the two-neutrino double-beta decay are governed by a virtual two-step transition connecting the initial and final ground states through the first 1 + state, 1 l + , of the intermediate odd-odd nucleus, for those odd-odd nuclei where the 1 l + state is the ground state. To investigate the validity of the SSDH we have performed a systematical theoretical analysis of all known double-beta-decay transitions where the SSDH conditions are fulfilled. the calculations are based on the quasiparticle random-phase approximation (QRPA) and the results have been obtained by using realistic single-particle bases and real…

research product

Double-beta-decay nuclear matrix elements in the QRPA framework

We review the recent work done by the Jyväskylä-La Plata collaboration on the calculation of nuclear matrix elements for various modes of double-beta decays. Whenever helpful, we connect our recent work to the historical background in order to highlight the progress achieved in the field of double-beta decay. At the same time, we introduce some new concepts and ideas to treat e.g. possible backgrounds in Gamow-Teller strength functions generated in (p,n) and (n,p) reactions. © 2012 IOP Publishing Ltd. Fil: Suhonen, J.. Universidad de Jyvaskyla; Finlandia Fil: Civitarese, Enrique Osvaldo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La P…

research product

Combining data from high-energy p p -reactions and neutrinoless double-beta decay: Limits on the mass of the right-handed boson

From the recently established lower-limits on the nonobservability of the neutrinoless double-beta decay of 76Ge (GERDA collaboration) and 136Xe (EXO-200 and KamLAND-Zen collaborations), combined with the ATLAS and CMS data, we extract limits for the left-right (LR) mixing angle, of the SU(2)L ×SU(2)R electroweak Hamiltonian. For the theoretical analysis, which is a model dependent, we have adopted a minimal extension of the Standard Model (SM) of Electroweak Interactions belonging to the SU(2)L ×SU(2)R representation. The nuclear-structure input of the analysis consists of a set of matrix elements and phase-space factors, and the experimental lower-limits for the half-lives. The other inpu…

research product

Single and double beta decays in the , and triplets of isobars

Abstract In this paper we analyze the ground-state-to-ground-state two-neutrino double beta ( 2 ν β β ) decays and single EC and β − decays for the A = 100 ( 100 Mo– 100 Tc– 100 Ru), A = 116 ( 116 Cd– 116 In– 116 Sn) and A = 128 ( 128 Te– 128 I– 128 Xe) triplets of isobars. We use the proton–neutron quasiparticle random-phase approximation (pnQRPA) with realistic G-matrix-derived effective interactions in very large single-particle bases. The purpose is to access the effective value of the axial-vector coupling constant g A in the pnQRPA calculations. We show that the three triplets of isobars represent systems with different characteristics of orbital occupancies and cumulative 2 ν β β nuc…

research product

Effects of orbital occupancies and spin–orbit partners on -decay rates

Abstract Neutrinoless double beta ( 0 ν β β ) decay of the 76Ge, 82Se, 128Te, 130Te and 136Xe nuclei is discussed in terms of the associated nuclear matrix element (NME). The effects of the size of the single-particle model space and the occupancies of individual orbits on the NME are discussed by using the proton–neutron quasiparticle random-phase approximation (pnQRPA) with effective, G-matrix-derived nuclear forces. It is found that only in some cases the orbital occupancies play a decisive role for the size of the NME, whereas the inclusion of all the spin–orbit partners is essential to achieve a NME of reasonable quality. The obtained results are compared with published results of othe…

research product

Weak-interaction and nuclear-structure aspects of nuclear double beta decay

Abstract Weak-interaction and nuclear-structure aspects of double beta decay are reviewed. Starting from effective electroweak lagrangians, decay rates for the two-neutrino and neutrinoless modes of the nuclear double beta decay transitions are defined and second-order perturbative expressions for the nuclear decay amplitudes are given. Nuclear matrix elements of the relevant operators are presented, as extracted from data and from shell-model and QRPA calculations as well as from other theoretical approximations. The analysis is performed both for the two-neutrino and neutrinoless modes of the decay. The expressions for ground-state-to-ground-state and ground-state-to-excited-state transit…

research product