Least-informative priors for decay searches

Abstract

Bayesian parameter inference techniques require a choice of prior distribution, which can strongly impact the statistical conclusions drawn. We discuss the construction of least-informative priors for neutrinoless double beta decay searches. Such priors attempt to be objective by maximizing the information gain from an experimental setup. In a parametrization using the lightest neutrino mass and an effective Majorana phase parameter , we construct such a prior using two different approaches and compare them with the standard flat and logarithmic priors in .