AMoRE Experiment Breaks New Ground: Discoveries in Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay of ¹⁰⁰Mo

In recent years, scientists have been on a quest to learn more about a rare nuclear process called neutrinoless double beta decay. This phenomenon involves two neutrons in a nucleus decaying into two protons without emitting neutrinos, unlike the normal double beta decay process.

Understanding neutrinoless double beta decay could significantly advance our knowledge of matter and antimatter. It may even confirm a theory proposed by physicist Ettore Majorana back in 1937: that neutrinos and their antiparticles, antineutrinos, are essentially the same particle.

The AMoRE (Advanced Mo-based Rare Process Experiment) collaboration is an international research team focused on tracking down this rare decay using special crystals made from molybdenum. These crystals operate at incredibly low temperatures, enabling researchers to detect slight signals that may indicate the decay has taken place.

In a recent study published in Physical Review Letters, the AMoRE team announced new findings that offer tighter constraints on where future searches for this phenomenon should focus. Lead researcher Yoomin Oh explained that neutrinos were first theorized about a hundred years ago and were only discovered a few decades later. Today, they remain one of the most common particles in the universe, yet many of their properties, especially their mass, are still a mystery.

For their experiments, the AMoRE team worked with molybdenum-100, a radioactive isotope. They conducted various tests and managed to detect particle interactions within the crystals hidden deep underground in Korea, at the Yangyang Underground Laboratory. This setup minimizes background noise, which can obscure faint signals.

The AMoRE-I experiment achieved the highest sensitivity to date for observing this decay process, but unfortunately, no clear signal was detected. Instead, they set a new limit on the half-life of molybdenum-100 decay, refining our understanding of this elusive area of particle physics.

Looking ahead, the team is preparing for AMoRE-II. This next phase will be conducted in Yemilab, a new facility located 1,000 meters underground. Oh noted that using about 100 kilograms of molybdenum specifically for these sensitive detectors presents a considerable challenge, but it will enhance their chances of detecting the decay.

This pursuit is not just about academic interest; it has broader implications for our understanding of the universe. In 2022, a survey conducted by the American Physical Society highlighted that over 60% of physicists believe studying neutrinos and their properties could lead to groundbreaking discoveries about the fundamental nature of matter.

With advanced technologies and international collaborations, we might soon uncover answers to some of the universe’s biggest mysteries. If you’re interested in digging deeper into this research, you can check out the original study titled "Improved Limit on Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay of ^100Mo from AMoRE-I" for further insights.

Read the study here.

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