The quest for the neutrino mass spectrum

This article provides a (semi-)popular introduction to the phenomenology of neutrino masses.Comment: 19 pages, 6 figure

Neutrinoless double beta decay and new physics in the neutrino sector

Neutrinoless double beta decay belongs to the most sensitive tools for the search of new physics beyond the standard model. The recent half life limit of the Heidelberg-Moscow experiment implies restrictive bounds on the absolute mass scale in the neutrino sector. Possible improvements by the GENIUS project provide a unique possibility to reconstruct the neutrino mass spectrum. Further constraints on new interactions in the neutrino sector are given in a model-independent way. Consequences for neutrino anomalies and theories beyond the standard model such as left-right symmetric models, R-parity violating SUSY and leptoquarks are discussed. The potential of double beta decay experiments in the search for WIMP dark matter is reviewed.Comment: Plenary talk presented by H. Paes at COSMO99, Trieste/Italy, 8 pages, 1 figure, requires ws-p8-50x6-00.cl

A general parametrization for the long-range part of neutrinoless double beta decay

Double beta decay has been proven to be a powerful tool to constrain $B-L$ violating physics beyond the standard model. We present a representation for the long-range part of the general $0\nu\beta\beta$ decay rate allowed by Lorentz-invariance. Combined with the short range part this general parametrization in terms of effective $B-L$ violating couplings will provide the $0\nu\beta\beta$ limits on arbitrary lepton number violating theories.Comment: Talk presented by H. P\"as at the Erice School on Nuclear Physics, 19th course "Neutrinos in Astro, Particle and Nuclear Physics", Erice, Italy, 16-24 September 1997, 2 pages, Latex, requires worldsci.st

Effects of New Gravitational Interactions on Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay

It has recently been proposed that violations of Lorentz invariance or violations of the equivalence principle can be constrained from the non-observation of neutrinoless double beta decay. We generalize this analysis to all possible new gravitational interactions and discuss briefly the constraints for different cases.Comment: 10 page

Double beta decay and the extra-dimensional seesaw mechanism

We study the model-building conditions under which an observable 0vBB decay signal is predicted due to Kaluza-Klein singlet neutrinos in theories with large extra dimensions. Our analysis is based on 5-dimensional singlet-neutrino models compactified on an S^1/Z_2 orbifold, where the Standard-Model fields are localized on a 3-brane. We show that sizeable 0vBB rates within the above minimal 5-dimensional framework would require a non-vanishing shift of the 3-brane from the orbifold fixed points by an amount smaller than the typical scale 100 inverse MeV characterizing the Fermi nuclear momentum. The resulting 5-dimensional models predict a sizeable effective Majorana-neutrino mass that could be several orders of magnitude larger than the light neutrino masses.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figures, talk presented by H. Paes at AHEP-2003, Valencia, Spai

Leptoquark patterns unifying neutrino masses, flavor anomalies, and the diphoton excess

Vector leptoquarks provide an elegant solution to a series of anomalies and at the same time generate naturally light neutrino masses through their mixing with the standard model Higgs boson. We present a simple Froggatt-Nielsen model to accommodate the B physics anomalies $R_K$ and $R_D$, neutrino masses, and the $750$ GeV diphoton excess in one cohesive framework adding only two vector leptoquarks and two singlet scalar fields to the standard model field content.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures; final version published in PR