Experimental and theoretical multi-channel study of direct nuclear reactions: a tool to provide data driven information on the ⁷⁶Ge neutrino-less double-beta decay

The study of heavy-ions induced double charge-exchange (HI-DCE) nuclear reactions is a promising way to access data-driven information on neutrino-less double-beta decay nuclear matrix elements. In the following, particular attention is given to the (O-18,Ne-18) and (Ne-20,O-20) HI-DCE reactions as tools for beta(+)beta(+) and beta(-)beta(-) decays, respectively. The experiments are performed in Catania at the Laboratori Nazionali del Sud of the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN-LNS). The MAGNEX magnetic spectrometer is used to momentum analyse the ejectiles of a large network of nuclear reactions. New preliminary experimental data for the Se-76(O-18,F-18)As-76 and Ge-76(Ne-20,F-20)As-76 single charge exchange (SCE) and for the Se-76(O-18,Ne-18)Ge-76 and Ge-76(Ne-20,O-20)Se-76 DCE nuclear reactions were also investigated.