Why do Majorana particles occur?

In summary, Majorana particles are hypothesized to be fermions that are their own antiparticles. There are no known Majorana particles, but neutrinos are a possible candidate. It is still being debated whether neutrinos can be Majorana particles, as they do not carry any unbroken charges. The physical neutrinos may potentially be Majorana particles, depending on the neutrino mass-generating mechanism.
  • #1
Positralino
4
0
Why do Majorana particles occur?
For example, why is the antiparticle of photon itself?
 
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They don't. The photon is its own antiparticle but is not a Majorana particle. A Majorana particle is a hypothesized type of fermion that is its own antiparticle. There are no Majorana particles known.
 
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A Majorana particle is a hypothesized type of fermion that is its own antiparticle. There are no Majorana particles known.

I think that's an overstatement. There are no particles we KNOW FOR SURE are majorana. However, we suspect neutrinos might be. The neutrinoless-double-beta-decay experiments will have to decide the question.
 
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My understanding is that none of the known neutrinos can be Majorana. Only an as yet undiscovered sterile neutrino might have a Majorana mass, since all of its quantum numbers are zero. Isn't that right?
 
  • #5
Bill_K said:
My understanding is that none of the known neutrinos can be Majorana. Only an as yet undiscovered sterile neutrino might have a Majorana mass, since all of its quantum numbers are zero. Isn't that right?

No. The physical neutrinos may, in fact, be Majorana particles. Certainly, the neutrino states that appear in the SM before EW symmetry breaking can't be Majorana, as they carry both SU(2)_L and U(1)_Y charges. However, after EWSB, those charges are no longer conserved and the neutrinos don't carry those that are. So, there's nothing to stop the physical neutrinos from being Majorana particles. It simply becomes a matter of whether the neutrino mass-generating mechanism allows it or not.
 
  • #6
Bill_K said:
My understanding is that none of the known neutrinos can be Majorana. Only an as yet undiscovered sterile neutrino might have a Majorana mass, since all of its quantum numbers are zero. Isn't that right?

The known neutrinos don't carry any unbroken charges. The typical neutrino mass parameters added to the lagrangian are majorana. If there are no right-handed neutrinos, you have to have a majorana mass.
 

1. What are Majorana particles?

Majorana particles are hypothetical particles that are their own antiparticles. This means that they have the same properties as their antiparticles, making them their own charge conjugate.

2. Why do scientists study Majorana particles?

Scientists study Majorana particles because they are predicted by some theories, such as the Standard Model of particle physics, and could potentially help us understand the fundamental building blocks of the universe.

3. How are Majorana particles different from other particles?

Majorana particles are different from other particles because they are their own antiparticles, while other particles have distinct antiparticles with opposite charge and other properties. This unique property makes Majorana particles of particular interest to scientists.

4. What are the possible applications of Majorana particles?

Possible applications of Majorana particles include their use in quantum computing, as they have the potential to be more stable and less susceptible to errors than other particles. They could also have implications for understanding dark matter and other mysteries of the universe.

5. How are Majorana particles detected and observed?

Majorana particles are difficult to detect and observe, as they are predicted to have very little interaction with other particles. Scientists are currently working on developing experimental techniques, such as using superconductors, to detect and study these elusive particles.

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