Forbidden beta decays of 96Zr and 115In: Implications for neutrino physics

We summarize our theoretical results for two nuclides of interest for the double-beta decay and neutrino mass studies: 96Zr and 115In.The double-beta decay of 96Zr competes with three highly-forbidden beta-decay channels. Our microscopic nuclear-structure calculations imply that the half-life of the first-order beta-decay channels is an order of magnitude longer than that of the double-beta decay.In the work of C. T. Cattadori et al. it was discovered that 115In can beta decay to the first excited state of 115Sn. It was also suggested that this decay might provide a supplementary way of accessing the neutrino mass. The recent half-life measurement carried out in the underground laboratory HADES confirms the existence and refines the half-life of this decay channel. At the same time the precision mass measurements made at the University of Jyvaeskylae yield the record-setting ultra-low Q value of 0.35(17) keV. Our theoretical analysis of this decay suggests that atomic effects could play an important role in relating the measured half-life to the measured Q value.