Double beta decay

Double beta decay is a rare nuclear process where an atomic nucleus releases two electrons and two neutrinos, changing into a different element with two more protons. It occurs when single beta decay is suppressed, making the nucleus more stable by simultaneously transforming two neutrons into protons. Scientists study this process to understand fundamental properties of neutrinos and whether they are their own antiparticles, which could have major implications for physics beyond the Standard Model. Observing a form called neutrinoless double beta decay would be a groundbreaking discovery indicating new physics principles.