Theoretical Constraints on Neutron-Mirror-Neutron Oscillation

Journal Article · Sun Apr 03 00:00:00 UTC 2022 · Symmetry

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/sym14040731 · OSTI ID:1860953

Babu, Kaladi S.; Mohapatra, Rabindra N.

Mirror models lead to the possibility that neutron (n) can oscillate into its mirror partner (n′), inspiring several experimental searches for this phenomenon. The condition for observability of this oscillation is a high degree of degeneracy between the n and n′ masses, which can be guaranteed if there is exact parity symmetry taking all particles to their mirror partners. However, consistency of these models with big-bang nucleosynthesis requires that this parity symmetry be broken in the early universe in a scenario called asymmetric inflation. In this paper, we study the consistency of an observable n−n′ oscillations signal with asymmetric inflation and derive various theoretical constraints. In particular, we find that the reheat temperature after inflation should lie below 2.5 TeV, and we predict a singlet fermion with a mass below 100 GeV. In simple models, where the right-handed neutrino is a mediator of baryon-number-violating interactions, we find that the light neutrinos are Dirac fermions with their masses arising radiatively through one-loop diagrams.

• Research Organization: Oklahoma State Univ., Stillwater, OK (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE; USDOE Office of Science (SC)
• Grant/Contract Number: SC0016013
• OSTI ID: 1860953
• Journal Information: Symmetry, Journal Name: Symmetry Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 14; ISSN 2073-8994; ISSN SYMMAM
• Publisher: MDPI AGCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: Switzerland
• Language: English