Neutron-Anti-Neutron Oscillation: Theory and Phenomenology

Abstract

The discovery of neutrino masses has provided strong hints in favor of the possibility that B-L symmetry is an intimate feature of physics beyond the standard model. I discuss how important information about this symmetry as well as other scenarios for TeV scale new physics can be obtained from the baryon number violating process, neutron-anti-neutron oscillation. This article presents an overview of different aspects of neutron-anti-neutron oscillation and is divided into the following parts : (i) the phenomenon; (ii) the physics, (iii) plausible models and (iv) applications to cosmology. In particular, it is argued how the discovery of $n-\bar{n}$ oscillation can significantly affect our thinking about simple grand unified theory paradigms for physics beyond the standard model, elucidate the nature of forces behind neutrino mass and provide a new microphysical view of the origin of matter in the universe.

34 pages; 7 figures; Invited review for the issue on "Fundamental Neutron Physics" by J. Phys. G

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• The Role of Lattice QCD in Searches for Violations of Fundamental Symmetries and Signals for New Physics
• CP Violating Baryon Oscillations
• Phenomenology of WIMPy baryogenesis models
• Low Energy Effective Field Theory Operator Basis at $d\le 9$
• Neutrino Masses, Grand Unification, and Baryon Number Violation
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• The search for neutron-antineutron oscillations at the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory
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• Neutron-antineutron oscillations from lattice QCD
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• Baryon-Number-Violating Nucleon and Dinucleon Decays in a Model with Large Extra Dimensions
• Nucleon Decay and $n$-$\bar{n}$ Oscillations in a Left-Right Symmetric Model with Large Extra Dimensions
• Probing dark matter and quantum field theory effects with Rydberg atoms
• Aspects of symmetry breaking in Grand Unified Theories
• Realization of lepton masses and mixing angles from point interactions in an extra dimension
• GUTs with dim-5 interactions: Gauge Unification and Intermediate Scales
• Neutron-antineutron oscillations in the deuteron studied with $NN$ and $\bar{N}N$ interactions based on chiral effective field theory
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• The Development of the NNBAR Experiment
• Limiting Lorentz Violation from Neutron--Antineutron Oscillation
• Limiting Equivalence Principle Violation and Long-Range Baryonic Force from Neutron-Antineutron Oscillation
• Theoretical Analysis of Antineutron-Nucleus Data needed for Antineutron Mirrors in Neutron-Antineutron Oscillation Experiments
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• Asymmetric accidental composite dark matter
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• From Old Symmetries to New Symmetries: Quarks, Leptons and B-L
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• The HIBEAM Instrument at the European Spallation Source
• Leptoquarks, axions and the unification of B, L, and Peccei-Quinn symmetries
• Observable n - anti-n Oscillations with New Physics at LHC
• SU(5)-inspired double beta decay
• Renormalization Group Evolution of Dimension-seven Baryon- and Lepton-number-violating Operators
• Relativistic quantum bouncing particles in a homogeneous gravitational field
• Neutron Majorana mass from Exotic Instantons in a Pati-Salam model
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• Baryogenesis, Dark Matter, and Flavor Structure in Non-thermal Moduli Cosmology
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