$n \to K\ell$ and the baryon asymmetry of the universe

Abstract

The observed baryon asymmetry (BAU) of the universe puts strong constraints on any $(B-L)$-violating interaction. An observation of a $(B-L)$-violating nucleon decay channel would therefore have profound implications for our understanding of the BAU. Here we point out that the observation of the final state with a kaon and a charged lepton in a future nucleon decay experiment would hint at $(B-L)$ violation even if the charge of the lepton is not determined experimentally. In SMEFT, this follows from the fact that $n \to K^+\ell^-$ arises already at dimension seven, while the $(B-L)$-conserving decay $n \to K^-\ell^+$ requires dimension-ten operators that, in addition, would be accompanied by lower-dimensional $(B+L)$-violating decay modes. An observation of $n \to K\ell$ in the absence of other modes such as $p \to \pi^0\ell^+$, would then strongly suggest that $(B-L)$ is violated.