Particle Physics Seminar, 21 January, 2004

Particle Physics Seminar

Date: Wednesday 21st January 2004

Title: Present status of double beta decay and the NEMO experiment

Speaker: Dr Ruben Saakyan (UCL)

Abstract
The motivation, present status and future plans of the search for neutrinoless double beta decay will be reviewed. The recent observations of neutrino oscillations have shown that there is a reasonable hope that neutrinoless double beta decay corresponding to the neutrino mass scale suggested by oscillation experiments, ~0.05 eV, actually exists. The sensitivity of the next generation double beta decay experiments will cover this interesting range in the next 10 years. This may give us answers on the two fundamental questions:

which can not be addressed by oscillation experiments. Particular attention will be paid to the NEMO experiment currently taking data in which UK is actively participating and its possible successor SuperNEMO.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This Particle Physics seminar will take place in room 106, Physics West, at 1315. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be served at 1300.