arXiv · 1902.05342
Baryon-number violation by two units and the deuteron lifetime
Abstract
We calculate the lifetime of the deuteron with dimension-nine quark operators that violate baryon number by two units. We construct an effective field theory for $|\Delta B|=2$ interactions that give rise to neutron-antineutron ($n$-$\bar{n}$) oscillations and dinucleon decay within a consistent power counting. We calculate the ratio of the deuteron lifetime to the square of the $n$-$\bar{n}$ oscillation time up to next-to-leading order. Our result, which is analytical and has a quantified uncertainty, is smaller by a factor $\simeq 2.5$ than earlier estimates based on nuclear models, which impacts the indirect bound on he $n$-$\bar{n}$ oscillation time and future experiments. We discuss how combined measurements of $n$-$\bar{n}$ oscillations and deuteron decay can help to identify the sources of baryon-number violation.
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F. Oosterhof, B. Long, J. de Vries, R. G. E. Timmermans, U. van Kolck. 2019-02-14. Baryon-number violation by two units and the deuteron lifetime. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.122.172501
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