Sterile neutrinos and neutrinoless double beta decay

Abstract

This thesis investigates sterile neutrinos in neutrinoless double beta decay within the minimal extension of the Standard Model. After introducing neutrino mass generation and decay mechanisms, we implement active and sterile neutrino contributions in a custom Python code. The tool computes decay half-lives across 3+1, and 3+2 models, enabling detailed phenomenological analysis. The results, in the form of plots and parameter scans, help constrain sterile neutrino properties and clarify their impact on decay observables. The code is designed to interface with the existing vDoBe package and supports future extensions, including 3+3 models and higher-dimensional operators.