Testing effective field theory with the most general neutron decay correlations

Abstract

Built on the seminal works by Jackson-Treiman-Wyld and Ebel-Feldman, we derive the most general free neutron differential decay rate where all massive particles (neutron, proton and electron) are polarized. This introduces 33 new correlations in addition to the 18 existing ones, which over-constrain the coupling constants in the low-energy effective field theory of charged weak interactions, and thus provides stringent tests of the validity of the theory framework itself. We classify the correlation coefficients in terms of their Standard Model limit and discrete symmetries, and study their expansion with respect to the new physics coupling strengths, supplemented by the experiment-independent $\mathcal{O}(\alpha )$ virtual electromagnetic radiative corrections.

Version accepted by PRD

References in corpus (7)

• Measurement of the Weak Axial-Vector Coupling Constant in the Decay of Free Neutrons Using a Pulsed Cold Neutron Beam
• Kinematic sensitivity to the Fierz term of $\beta$-decay differential spectra
• All orders factorization and the Coulomb problem
• First direct constraints on Fierz interference in free neutron $\beta$ decay
• The Standard Model theory of neutron beta decay
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Cited by in corpus (1)

• Most general neutron decay correlations: Standard Model recoil and radiative corrections