Neutrinoless double beta decay (0 nu beta beta) is considered the best
potential resource to access the absolute neutrino mass scale. Moreover,
if observed, it will signal that neutrinos are their own anti-particles
(Majorana particles). Presently, this physics case is one of the most
important research “beyond Standard Model” and might guide the way
towards a Grand Unified Theory of fundamental interactions.
Since the 0 nu beta beta decay process involves nuclei, its analysis
necessarily implies nuclear structure issues. In the NURE project,
supported by a Starting Grant of the European Research Council (ERC),
nuclear reactions of double charge-exchange (DCE) are used as a tool to
extract information on the 0 nu beta beta Nuclear Matrix Elements. In
DCE reactions and beta beta decay indeed the initial and final nuclear
states are the same and the transition operators have similar structure.
Thus the measurement of the DCE absolute cross-sections can give crucial
information on beta beta matrix elements. In a wider view, the NUMEN
international collaboration plans a major upgrade of the INFN-LNS
facilities in the next years in order to increase the experimental
production of nuclei of at least two orders of magnitude, thus making
feasible a systematic study of all the cases of interest as candidates
for 0 nu beta beta
