The values of the antineutron-nucleus scattering lengths, and in particular their imaginary parts, are needed to evaluate the feasibility of using neutron mirrors in laboratory experiments to search for neutron-antineutron oscillations. We analyze existing experimental and theoretical constraints on these values with emphasis on low A nuclei and use the results to suggest materials for the neutron/antineutron guide and to evaluate the systematic uncertainties in estimating the neutron-antineutron oscillation time. As an example we discuss a scenario for a future neutron-antineutron oscillation experiment proposed for the European Spallation Source. We also suggest future experiments which can provide a better determination of the values of antineutron-nuclei scattering lengths.
@article{arxiv.2009.11467,
title = {Theoretical Analysis of Antineutron-Nucleus Data needed for Antineutron Mirrors in Neutron-Antineutron Oscillation Experiments},
author = {K. V. Protasov and V. Gudkov and E. A. Kupriyanova and V. V. Nesvizhevsky and W. M. Snow and A. Yu. Voronin},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2009.11467},
year = {2020}
}