$n-n'$ Oscillations: Sensitivity of a first UCN beam experiment

Abstract

Oscillations of the neutron into a hidden sector particle are processes predicted in various Standard Model extensions. This extra channel for neutron disappearance has not been tested experimentally in large portions of the oscillation parameter space. Several efforts have been recently made on revising the oscillation time limits at low mass-splitting in ultra-cold neutron (UCN) storage experiments, and at larger mass-splitting in passing-through-wall experiments. In this work, we present the expected sensitivity of an experiment searching for neutron hidden neutron oscillations at intermediate mass-splitting via the application of magnetic fields in the range $B_0=30-1100$ $\mu$T. This experiment was performed at the Institut-Laue-Langevin using a novel UCN counter to monitor the beam flux. The measured UCN rate and the data collection technique predict a sensitivity on the oscillation time at the level of a couple of seconds.