English

Dark Matter interpretation of the neutron decay anomaly

High Energy Physics - Phenomenology 2022-03-21 v2 High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena High Energy Physics - Experiment

Abstract

We add to the Standard Model a new fermion χ\chi with minimal baryon number 1/3. Neutron decay nχχχn \to \chi\chi\chi into non-relativistic χ\chi can account for the neutron decay anomaly, compatibly with bounds from neutron stars. χ\chi can be Dark Matter, and its cosmological abundance can be generated by freeze-in dominated at TmnT \sim m_n. The associated processes nχχχγn \to \chi\chi\chi \gamma, hydrogen decay Hχχχν(γ){\rm H}\to \chi\chi \chi\nu(\gamma) and DM-induced neutron disappearance χˉnχχ(γ)\bar\chi n \to \chi \chi (\gamma) have rates below experimental bounds and can be of interest for future experiments.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2112.09111,
  title  = {Dark Matter interpretation of the neutron decay anomaly},
  author = {Alessandro Strumia},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2112.09111},
  year   = {2022}
}

Comments

15 pages, 3 figures. Published version. Associated webinar: https://youtu.be/Q1bUrpQqTQs