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arXiv · 1807.07906

Neutron lifetime puzzle and neutron -- mirror neutron oscillation

Zurab Berezhiani
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Abstract

The discrepancy between the neutron lifetimes measured in the beam and trap experiments can be explained via the neutron $n$ conversion into mirror neutron $n'$, its dark partner from parallel mirror sector, provided that $n$ and $n'$ have a tiny mass splitting order $10^{-7}$ eV. In large magnetic fields used in beam experiments $n-n'$ transition is resonantly enhanced and can transform of about a per cent fraction of neutrons into mirror neutrons which decay in invisible mode. Thus less protons will be produced and the measured value $\tau_{\rm beam}$ appears larger than $\beta$-decay time $\tau_{\beta} = \tau_{\rm trap}$. Some phenomenological and astrophysical consequences of this scenario are also briefly discussed.

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Zurab Berezhiani. 2018-07-20. Neutron lifetime puzzle and neutron -- mirror neutron oscillation. https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc%2Fs10052-019-6995-x

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