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Yuri Kamyshkov

Publications and source records attributed to Yuri Kamyshkov.

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New Limits on $n \rightarrow n'$ Transformation from HFIR Cold Neutron Beam

Hypothetical neutron $n$ to sterile neutron $n'$ transformations would violate baryon number $\mathcal{B}$ and point to the nature of Dark Matter. We performed a new search for $n \rightarrow n'$ using an intense cold neutron beam from the High Flux Isotope Reactor at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. We used a theoretical model that describes the transformation $n \rightarrow n'$ with two parameters: a small mass difference $Δ{m}$ between the interaction states $n$ and $n'$ and a mixing vacuum angle $θ_0$. A thin absorbing cadmium wafer was used in the center of the superconducting 6.6 T magnet which provided a large gradient for the non-adiabatic $n \rightarrow n'$ transition. No signal was observed above background in the $^{3}\text{He}$ neutron detector 20 meters downstream of the magnet. This result gives an order of magnitude improvement in the lower limit for the probability $2θ_0^2$ of the $n \rightarrow n'$ transformation in vacuum in the range of $Δ{m}$ between $0.1$ neV and $1000$ neV.

hep-ex

Avoiding Blindness in Baryon Number Violating Processes: Free-Beam and Intranuclear Paths to Neutron-Antineutron Transitions

Experimental searches for neutron--antineutron ($n \rightarrow \bar n$) transitions can be considered via two approaches: conversion in free-neutron beams and intranuclear transformation leading to matter instability in large-mass detectors. Plans for next-generation searches make it timely to highlight the complementarity, necessity, and limitations of each method. Converting the bound neutron limit into one for free neutrons traditionally utilizes nucleus-specific estimates of the in-medium suppression of $n \rightarrow \bar n$, obtained within mean-field theory under a single-operator assumption. This paper highlights how this suppression can be scenario-dependent, which can lead to deviations from the standard approach that can span several orders of magnitude. A further goal of the paper is to point out the need for a broader phenomenology program for $n\rightarrow \bar{n}$ that is akin to those developed for electric dipole moments and other systems for which short-distance new physics must be studied in-medium.

hep-ph

Improved Limits on $n \rightarrow n'$ Transformation from the Spallation Neutron Source

Conversions between neutrons $n$ and Dark Matter candidate sterile neutrons $n'$ have been proposed as a mechanism for Baryon Number $\mathcal{B}$ violation. In the case that there is a small mass difference $Δ{m}$ between the $n$ and the $n'$ states, oscillations can be induced by compensating for $Δ{m}$ with a magnetic field. A search for such neutron oscillations was performed at the Spallation Neutron Source by looking for anomalous neutron transmission through a strongly absorbing cadmium wafer inside of a $6.6$~T magnet. The approach described here saw no regenerated neutrons above background, which provides an improved limit for neutron - sterile neutrons transformations for a range of $Δ{m}$ between $0.1$~neV and $1000$~neV.

hep-ex

Theories and Experiments for Testable Baryogenesis Mechanisms: A Snowmass White Paper

The baryon asymmetry of the Universe is one of the central motivations to expect physics beyond the Standard Model. In this Snowmass white paper, we review the challenges and opportunities in testing some of the central paradigms that predict physics at scales low enough to expect new experimental data in the next decade. Focusing on theoretical ideas and some of their experimental implications, in particular, we discuss neutron-antineutron transformations, flavor observables, next generation colliders, future neutron facilities, gravitational waves, searches for permanent electric dipole moments, $0νββ$ decay and some future large underground experiments as methods to test post-sphaleron baryogenesis, electroweak baryogenesis, mesogenesis and low scale leptogenesis. Finally, we comment on the cases where high scale physics can be probed through some of these same mechanisms.

hep-ph

Neutron-Mirror Neutron oscillations in Matter

The possibility that a neutron can be transformed to a hidden sector particle remains intriguingly open. Proposed theoretical models conjecture that the hidden sector can be represented by a mirror sector, and the neutron n can oscillate into its sterile mirror twin n', exactly or nearly degenerate in mass with n. Oscillations n - n' can take place in vacuum and in the environment of the regular matter and the magnetic field where only neutron will be subject of interaction with the environment. We describe the propagation of the oscillating n - n' system as a particle of the cold neutron beam passing through the dense absorbing materials in connection with the possible regeneration type of experiments where the effect of n -> n' -> n transformation can be observed.

hep-ph

$|Δ\mathcal{B}| =2$: A State of the Field, and Looking Forward--A brief status report of theoretical and experimental physics opportunities

The origin of the matter-antimatter asymmetry apparently obligates the laws of physics to include some mechanism of baryon number ($\mathcal{B}$) violation. Searches for interactions violating $\mathcal{B}$ and baryon-minus-lepton number $\mathcal{(B-L)}$ represent a rich and underutilized opportunity. These are complementary to the existing, broad program of searches for $\mathcal{L}$-violating modes such as neutrinoless double $β$-decay which could provide deeper understandings of the plausibility of leptogenesis, or $\mathcal{B}$-violating, $\mathcal{(B-L)}$-conserving processes such as proton decay. In particular, a low-scale, post-sphaleron violation mechanism of $\mathcal{(B-L)}$ could provide a \textit{testable} form of baryogenesis. Though theoretically compelling, searches for such $\mathcal{(B-L)}$-violating processes like $Δ\mathcal{B}=2$ dinucleon decay and $n\rightarrow\bar{n}$ remain relatively underexplored experimentally compared to other rare processes. By taking advantage of upcoming facilities such as the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment and the European Spallation Source, this gap can be addressed with new intranuclear and free searches for neutron transformations with very high sensitivity, perhaps greater than three orders of magnitude higher than previous experimental searches. This proceedings reports on recent theoretical and experimental advances and sensitivities of next-generation searches for neutron transformations were detailed as part of the Amherst Center for Fundamental Interactions Workshop, "Theoretical Innovations for Future Experiments Regarding Baryon Number Violation," directly coordinated with the Rare Processes and Precision Measurements Frontier.

hep-ph

On the Neutron Transition Magnetic Moment

We discuss the possibility of the transition magnetic moments (TMM) between the neutron n and mirror neutron n', its hypothetical sterile twin from parallel particle "mirror" sector. The neutron can be spontaneously converted into mirror neutron via these TMM's (in addition to the more conventional transition channel due to n-n' mass mixing) interacting with the magnetic field B as well as with mirror magnetic field B'. We derive analytic formula for the average probability of n-n' oscillation and consider possible manifestations of the neutron TMM effects. In particular, we discuss potential role of these effects in the neutron lifetime measurement experiments leading us to new, testable predictions.

nucl-th

Neutron Disappearance and Regeneration from Mirror State

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that if the transformation of a neutron to a mirror neutron exists with an oscillation time of the order of ten seconds, it can be detected in a rather simple disappearance and/or regeneration type experiment with an intense beam of cold neutrons. In the presence of a conjectural mirror magnetic field of unknown magnitude and direction, the resonance transformation conditions can be found by scanning the magnitude of the ordinary magnetic field in the range e.g. $\pm 100 μ$T. Magnetic field is assumed to be uniform along the path of neutron beam. If the transformation effect exists within this range, the direction and possible time variation of the mirror magnetic field can be determined with additional dedicated measurements.

hep-ex

Project X: Physics Opportunities

Part 2 of "Project X: Accelerator Reference Design, Physics Opportunities, Broader Impacts". In this Part, we outline the particle-physics program that can be achieved with Project X, a staged superconducting linac for intensity-frontier particle physics. Topics include neutrino physics, kaon physics, muon physics, electric dipole moments, neutron-antineutron oscillations, new light particles, hadron structure, hadron spectroscopy, and lattice-QCD calculations. Part 1 is available as arXiv:1306.5022 [physics.acc-ph] and Part 3 is available as arXiv:1306.5024 [physics.acc-ph].

hep-ex

Gauged B-L Number and Neutron--Antineutron Oscillation: Long-range Forces Mediated by Baryophotons

Transformation of neutron to antineutron is a small effect that has not yet been experimentally observed. %\cite{Phillips:2014fgb}. In principle, it can occur with free neutrons in the vacuum or with bound neutrons inside the nuclear environment different for neutrons and antineutrons and for that reason in the latter case it is heavily suppressed. Free neutron transformation also can be suppressed if environmental vector field exists destinguishing neutron from antineutron. We consider here the case of a vector field coupled to $B-L$ charge of the particles ($B-L$ photons) and study a possibility of this to lead to the observable suppression of neutron to antineutron transformation. The suppression effect however can be removed by applying external magnetic field. If the neutron--antineutron oscillation will be discovered in free neutron oscillation experiments, this will imply limits on $B-L$ photon coupling constant and interaction radius few order of magnitudes stronger than present limits form the tests of the equivalence principle. If $n-\bar n$ oscillation will be discovered via nuclear instability, but not in free neutron oscillations in corresponding level, this would indicate to the presence of fifth-forces mediated by such baryophotons.

hep-ph

Bounds on new light particles from high-energy and very small momentum transfer np elastic scattering data

We found that spin-one new light particle exchanges are strongly bounded by high-energy and small momentum transfer np elastic scattering data; the analogous bound for a scalar particle is considerably weaker, while for a pseudoscalar particle no bounds can be set. These bounds are compared with the bounds extracted from low-energy n-Pb scattering experiments and from the bounds of pi0 and K+ meson decays.

hep-ph

Signatures of Nucleon Disappearance in Large Underground Detectors

For neutrons bound inside nuclei, baryon instability can manifest itself as a decay into undetectable particles (e.g., $\it n \to νν\barν $), i.e., as a disappearance of a neutron from its nuclear state. If electric charge is conserved, a similar disappearance is impossible for a proton. The existing experimental lifetime limit for neutron disappearance is 4-7 orders of magnitude lower than the lifetime limits with detectable nucleon decay products in the final state [PDG2000]. In this paper we calculated the spectrum of nuclear de-excitations that would result from the disappearance of a neutron or two neutrons from $^{12}$C. We found that some de-excitation modes have signatures that are advantageous for detection in the modern high-mass, low-background, and low-threshold underground detectors, where neutron disappearance would result in a characteristic sequence of time- and space-correlated events. Thus, in the KamLAND detector [Kamland], a time-correlated triple coincidence of a prompt signal, a captured neutron, and a $β^{+}$ decay of the residual nucleus, all originating from the same point in the detector, will be a unique signal of neutron disappearance allowing searches for baryon instability with sensitivity 3-4 orders of magnitude beyond the present experimental limits.

nucl-th

Neutron-Antineutron Oscillations

Experimental observation of nucleon instability is one of the missing key components required for the explanation of baryon asymmetry of the universe. Proton decays with the modes and rates predicted by(B-L)-conserving schemes of Grand Unification are not observed experimentally. There are reasons to believe that (B-L) might not be conserved in nature, thus leading to the nucleon decay into lepton+(X) and to phenomena such as Majorana masses of neutrinos, neutrinoless double-beta decays, and most spectacularly to the transitions of neutron to anti-neutron. The energy scale where (B-L) violation takes place cannot be predicted by theory and therefore has to be explored by experiments. Different experimental approaches to searching for (B-L)-violating transition of neutron to antineutron are discussed in this paper. Most powerful search for neutron to antineutron transitions can be performed in a new reactor-based experiment at HFIR reactor (ORNL) where sensitivity can be >1,000 times higher than in the previous experiments.

hep-ex