Experimental test of baryon conservation: A new limit on neutron-antineutron oscillations in oxygen

Journal Article · Mon May 02 00:00:00 EDT 1983 · Phys. Rev. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.50.1354· OSTI ID:5938645

Cherry, M L; Lande, K; Lee, C K; Steinberg, R I; Cleveland, B

This paper reports the result of a search for baryon-number--nonconserving neutron-antineutron transitions in oxygen using a 300-ton water Cherenkov detector located in the Homestake gold mine at a depth of 4200 meters of water equivalent. The 90%-confidence-level upper limit for the neutron partial lifetime for this process is found to be 1.4 x 10/sup 30/ yr. According to a recent calculation of neutron-antineutron oscillations in oxygen, this result corresponds to a lower limit on the free neutron oscillation time of 2 x 10/sup 7/ sec.

• Research Organization: Department of Physics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-81ER40012
• OSTI ID: 5938645
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. Lett.; (United States), Vol. 50:18
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
BARYON NUMBER
SELECTION RULES
NEUTRONS
OSCILLATIONS
ANTINEUTRONS
CHERENKOV COUNTERS
CONSERVATION LAWS
LIFETIME
LIMITING VALUES
OXYGEN
ANTIBARYONS
ANTIMATTER
ANTINUCLEONS
ANTIPARTICLES
BARYONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ELEMENTS
FERMIONS
HADRONS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NONMETALS
NUCLEONS
RADIATION DETECTORS
645103* - High Energy Physics- Particle Interactions & Properties-Experimental- Strong Interactions & Baryon & Meson Properties