Search for explanation of the neutron lifetime anomaly

Serebrov, A. P.; Chaikovskii, M. E.; Klyushnikov, G. N.; Zherebtsov, O. M.; Chechkin, A. V.

doi:10.1103/physrevd.103.074010

Cited by 25 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…The n − n ′ oscillation effects could also manifest in the quasi-free medium of a halo nucleus. One example is 11 Be, a one-neuron halo nucleus. It has a 13.76 second β-decay half-life with a strong β-delayed particle decay (βα) branch of 3.3% [132].…”

Section: Other Possible Testsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neutron lifetime anomaly and mirror matter theory

Tan¹

2023

Preprint

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This paper reviews the puzzles in modern neutron lifetime measurements and related unitarity issues in the CKM matrix. It is not a comprehensive and unbiased compilation of all historic data and studies, but rather a focus on compelling evidence leading to new physics. In particular, the largely overlooked nuances of different techniques applied in material and magnetic trap experiments are clarified. Further detailed analysis shows that the ``beam'' approach of neutron lifetime measurements is likely to give the ``true'' $\beta$-decay lifetime, while discrepancies in ``bottle'' measurements indicate new physics at play. The most feasible solution to these puzzles is a newly proposed ordinary-mirror neutron ($n-n'$) oscillation model under the framework of mirror matter theory. This phenomenological model is reviewed and introduced, and its explanations of the neutron lifetime anomaly and possible non-unitarity of the CKM matrix are presented. Most importantly, various new experimental proposals, especially lifetime measurements with small\slash narrow magnetic traps or under super-strong magnetic fields, are discussed in order to test the surprisingly large anomalous signals that are uniquely predicted by this new $n-n'$ oscillation model.

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Section: Other Possible Testsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neutron lifetime anomaly and mirror matter theory

Tan¹

2023

Preprint

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“…Several Monte Carlo (MC) simulations have been developed to model the early UCN experiments that used material storage bottles [21,22]. These MC simulations have adjusted the corresponding lifetime by a few seconds, reducing the tension between the beam and the bottle lifetime measurements [23,24]. There are no independent simulations verifying the claims of these MCs, however.…”

Section: Other Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ultracold neutron storage simulation using the Kassiopeia software package

2022

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The Kassiopeia software package was originally developed to simulate electromagnetic fields and charged particle trajectories for neutrino mass measurement experiments. Recent additions to Kassiopeia also allow it to simulate neutral particle trajectories in magnetic fields based on their magnetic moments. Two different methods were implemented: an exact method that can work for arbitrary fields and an adiabatic method that is limited to slowly-varying fields but is much faster for large precession frequencies. Additional interactions to simulate reflection of ultracold neutrons from material walls and to allow spin-flip pulses were also added. These tools were used to simulate neutron precession in a room temperature neutron electric dipole moment experiment and predict the values of the longitudinal and transverse relaxation times as well as the trapping lifetime. All three parameters are found to closely match the experimentally determined values when simulated with both the exact and adiabatic methods, confirming that Kassiopeia is able to accurately simulate neutral particles. This opens the door for future uses of Kassiopeia to prototype the next generation of atomic traps and ultracold neutron experiments.

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“…The measurement of the lifetime of the neutron with a beam of cold neutrons [29][30][31], which is the main alternative to the measurement with UCNs, gives τ n = (887.7 ± 1.2 [stat] ± 1.9 [syst]) s. The difference of this value from the measurements by other methods is even larger, which is a known unsolved enigma. Possible reasons for this difference are actively sought from ignored errors in experiments with the neutron beams [32] to new decay channels of the neutron [31] or even dark matter [33].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the possibility of a significant increase in the storage time of ultracold neutrons in traps coated with a liquid helium film

Grigoriev,

Dyugaev,

Mogilyuk

et al. 2022

Preprint

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It is shown that rough inner walls of a trap of ultracold neutrons can be coated with a superfluid helium film much thicker than the depth of penetration of ultracold neutrons into helium. This coating should reduce the rate of loss of ultracold neutrons caused by absorption in the walls of the trap by orders of magnitude. It is demonstrated that triangular roughness is more efficient than rectangular for the reduction of the rate of loss of ultracold neutrons. Triangular roughness is more easily implemented technically and such diffraction gratings are fabricated industrially. Other methods are proposed to increase the thickness of the protective helium film.

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Search for explanation of the neutron lifetime anomaly

Cited by 25 publications

References 19 publications

Neutron lifetime anomaly and mirror matter theory

Neutron lifetime anomaly and mirror matter theory

Ultracold neutron storage simulation using the Kassiopeia software package

On the possibility of a significant increase in the storage time of ultracold neutrons in traps coated with a liquid helium film

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