Elsevier

Nuclear Physics A

Volume 543, Issue 4, 13 July 1992, Pages 645-660
Nuclear Physics A

Description of the 0+ → 0+ neutrinoless double-beta decay transition in 76Ge: Particle-number-projected quasiparticle random phase approximation

https://doi.org/10.1016/0375-9474(92)90551-TGet rights and content

Abstract

The 0+ → 0+ neutrinoless double-beta decay rate in 76Ge is calculated in the framework of a particle-number-projected quasiparticle random-phase approximation theory. The Fermi theory of the weak decay is extended in order to include quark degrees of freedom, which are treated in a relativistic quark model with harmonic confinement. The matrix elements which are relevant for the calculation of the half-life are expressed in terms of electron s- and p-wave contributions. Recoil effects arise in the model from the quark recoil in the decaying neutrons. Calculations are performed avoiding closure and starting from the current quark picture thus avoiding the use of effective vector and axial-vector coupling constants. It is found that the particle-number-projected formalism yields results which are similar to the ones obtained with the unprojected model. S- and p-wave effects upon the matrix elements are discussed. An upper limit for the effective Majorana mass of the neutrino, of the order of 3 eV, is deduced from the calculations.

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  • Cited by (0)

    1

    Department of Physics, University of Jyväskylä, SF-40100 Jyväskylä, Finland.

    2

    Permanent address: Department of Physics, University of La Plata, 1900 La Plata, Argentina. Fellow of the CONICET, Argentina.

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