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Benchmarking Nuclear Matrix Elements of 0νββ Decay with High-Energy Nuclear Collisions
Yi Li1,2, Xin Zhang3, Giuliano Giacalone4
1Sun Yat-sen University, School of Physics and Astronomy, Zhuhai 519082, China.
Physical Review Letters
|July 31, 2025
Summary
New collider experiments can help predict nuclear matrix elements (NMEs) for neutrinoless double-beta (0νββ) decay. Momentum correlations in high-energy collisions reveal connections to NMEs, aiding 0νββ decay searches.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear Physics
- Particle Physics
- High-Energy Physics
Background:
- Uncertainties in nuclear matrix elements (NMEs) hinder the search for neutrinoless double-beta (0νββ) decay.
- Accurate NMEs are crucial for interpreting experimental results and designing future searches.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify novel observables correlated with NMEs.
- To explore the potential of high-energy nuclear collisions for constraining NMEs.
Main Methods:
- Combined Bayesian analysis of nuclear structure for ^{150}Nd.
- Simulations of high-energy ^{150}Nd+^{150}Nd collisions.
- Analysis of momentum correlations among produced hadrons.
Main Results:
- Identified strong correlations between NMEs and features of the quark-gluon plasma (QGP).
- Observed connections between NMEs and QGP properties like spatial gradients and anisotropies.
- Demonstrated accessibility of these correlations via collective flow measurements.
Conclusions:
- High-energy collider experiments offer a new platform for benchmarking theoretical NME predictions.
- Momentum correlations in heavy-ion collisions provide a novel probe for nuclear structure relevant to 0νββ decay.
- This approach can reduce uncertainties in NMEs, advancing the search for 0νββ decay.
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