Improved Upper Limits on Baryon-Number Violating Dinucleon Decays to Dileptons

Abstract

We consider effects of $n-\bar n$ oscillations and resultant matter instability due to dinucleons decays. We point out that existing upper bounds on the rates for the dinucleon decays $nn \to 2π^0$, $nn \to π^+π^-$, and $np \to π^+π^0$ imply upper bounds on the rates for dinucleon decays to dileptons $nn \to e^+ e^-$, $nn \to μ^+μ^-$, $nn \to ν_\ell \barν_\ell$, and $np \to \ell^+ ν_\ell$, where $\ell=e, \ μ, \ τ$. We present estimates for these upper bounds. Our bounds are substantially stronger than corresponding limits from direct searches.