Dark Matter interpretation of the neutron decay anomaly

Abstract

A bstract We add to the Standard Model a new fermion χ with minimal baryon number 1/3. Neutron decay n → χχχ into non-relativistic χ can account for the neutron decay anomaly, compatibly with bounds from neutron stars. χ can be Dark Matter, and its cosmological abundance can be generated by freeze-in dominated at T ∼ m n . The associated processes n → χχχγ , hydrogen decay H → χχχν ( γ ) and DM-induced neutron disappearance $$ \overline{\chi} $$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mover> <mml:mi>χ</mml:mi> <mml:mo>¯</mml:mo> </mml:mover> </mml:math> n → χχ ( γ ) have rates below experimental bounds and can be of interest for future experiments.

Topics & Concepts