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Two-Neutrino Double Beta Decay: Critical Analysis

We have performed a critical analysis of different approximation schemes for the calculation of two-neutrino double beta decay (TNDBD) matrix elements. We have shown that within the single-particle approximation of nuclear Hamiltonian the TNDBD matrix element is equal to zero. The (renormalized) quasiboson approximation scheme imply for TNDBD transition operator to be a constant, if one requires the equivalence of initial and final (renormalized) QRPA Hamiltonians. It means that TNDBD is a higher order process in the boson expansion of the nuclear Hamiltonian. We have found that the mismatching of both Hamiltonians is getting worse with increasing strength of particle- particle interaction especially in the case of QRPA Hamiltonians. It is supposed to be one of the reasons of the extreme sensitivity of studied matrix element to the residual interaction appearing in explicit calculations involving the intermediate nucleus. Further, the Operator Expansion Method (OEM) has been reconsidered and new transition operators have been rederived in a consistent way. The validity of the OEM approximation has been discussed in respect to the other approximation schemes. The OEM combined with QRPA or RQRPA ground state wave functions reflects sensitively the instabilities incorporated in the considered ground states. Therefore, the predicting power of the OEM should be studied with help of other ground state wave functions. e.g. shell model ones.