Abstract
We calculate the lifetime of the deuteron with dimension-nine quark operators that violate baryon number by two units. We construct an effective field theory for |ΔB|=2 interactions that give rise to neutron-antineutron (n-n) oscillations and dinucleon decay within a consistent power counting. We calculate the ratio of the deuteron lifetime to the square of the n-n oscillation time up to next-to-leading order. Our result, which is analytical and has a quantified uncertainty, is smaller by a factor ≃2.5 than earlier estimates based on nuclear models, which impacts the indirect bound on the n-n oscillation time and future experiments. We discuss how combined measurements of n-n oscillations and deuteron decay can help to identify the sources of baryon-number violation.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 172501 |
Journal | Physical review letters |
Volume | 122 |
Issue number | 17 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 29 2019 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Physics and Astronomy