Examining the possibility to observe neutron dark decay in nuclei
Abstract
As proposed recently by Fornal and Grinstein, neutrons can undergo a dark matter decay mode which has not yet been observed. Such a decay could explain the existing discrepancy between two different methods of neutron lifetime measurements. If such neutron decay is possible, then it should occur also in nuclei with sufficiently low neutron binding energy. We examine a few nuclear candidates for the dark neutron decay and we consider the possibilities of their experimental identification. In more detail we discuss the case of 11Be which appears as the most promising nucleus for the observation of neutron dark decay.
- Publication:
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Physical Review C
- Pub Date:
- April 2018
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevC.97.042501
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1803.01334
- Bibcode:
- 2018PhRvC..97d2501P
- Keywords:
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- Nuclear Experiment
- E-Print:
- 3 pages, 1 figure