Distinguishing (Dirac or Majorana) neutrinos in purely leptonic decays of leptons

Abstract

We investigate purely leptonic decays of leptons $\l^{\prime-}\to l^-\bar{\nu}_l\nu_{l^{\prime}}$ to distinguish Dirac or Majorana neutrinos. We derive the differences of the decay width (and associated quantities) between the two neutrino hypotheses by the effect of identical particles. Evidence from experimental data makes the hypothesis of Majorana neutrinos very unlikely and our results strongly favor the hypothesis of Dirac neutrinos (in the standard three-neutrino theory). Moreover, our exploration for decay widths can be extended to the polarization angles of leptons, which will inspire new information for experimental and theoretical studies.