Laboratory constraints on peV-scale mass splitting between ordinary and sterile neutron states
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Sterile states of matter, represented by a parallel “mirror” sector, may contribute to the observed dark matter in the Universe. We investigated the parameter space of neutron ( n ) to mirror-neutron ( n ′ ) oscillations, in the case where the two states are not necessarily mass degenerate, taking into account interactions in the mirror sector. By tuning the magnitude of an applied magnetic field in the range 5 μ T < B < 360 μ T to corresponding resonance conditions for finite mass splitting, we derive exclusion limits for the n − n ′ oscillation time constant reaching about 20 s over the mass-difference range 0.3 − 22 p eV . In parts of this parameter range, our limits exceed the model-dependent neutron-star-cooling bound, providing the first experimental constraints in this scenario that are more stringent than this astrophysical estimate.
DOI: 10.1103/3kqg-c7bp
Language: English
Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Awards: Search for Neutron to Mirror-Neutron Oscillations, Precision Physics with Muons and Ultracold Neutrons II, Search for signals of physics beyond the Standard Model with n2EDM at PSI, Spin-spectroscopy with ultracold neutrons - Searching for dark matter and lorentz violation using spin-precessing neutrons, Precision Physics with Muons and Ultracold Neutrons, A novel neutronics model of the solid D2 ultracold neutron converter at PSI aiming for increasing the source intensity, G3757907674, G4184616848, Highly accurate vector gradiometers for a next-generation neutron EDM experiment, G598502428, Measurement of the neutron electric dipole moment, A new search for an electric dipole moment of the neutron with increased sensitivity and an improved UCN source., G972786147
OpenAlex ID: W7202383046