We know what you're thinking: Where the hell is all the antimatter?

[steve2470]

https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/04/06/can_neutrinos_be_their_own_antiparticle/

The mystery behind why there is an imbalance between matter and antimatter in the universe could be one step closer to being solved.

First, let's kick off with some gentle particle physics to set the scene. Scientists are hunting for something called neutrinoless double beta decay: in normal double beta decay, two neutrons convert to protons and two electrons and two electron antineutrinos are emitted. In neutrinoless double beta decay, just the two electrons are emitted. This neutrinoless decay has yet to be observed, and there are ongoing efforts to catch a glimpse of it.

Recently, physicists have successfully increased the sensitivity of the GERmanium Detector Array (GERDA) so that attempts to detect this elusive neutrinoless reaction are free from background noise. That ought to make it easier to spot what exactly happens in a neutrino-free breakdown. For example, it is possible that the neutrinos are Majorana particles, meaning the antineutrinos and neutrinos are the same particles.

“The potential of an essentially background-free search for neutrinoless double-? decay will facilitate a larger germanium experiment with sensitivity levels that will bring us closer to clarifying whether neutrinos are their own antiparticles,” the researchers wrote in a paper published in Nature this week (or for free on arXiv.)

[PoliticAverse]

1. Cancelled out by all the missing socks. n/t

[Silent3]

2. +1 n/t