A search for neutron to mirror-neutron oscillations using the nEDM apparatus at PSI

It has been proposed that there could be a mirror copy of the standard model particles, restoring the parity symmetry in the weak interaction on the global level. Oscillations between a neutral standard model particle, such as the neutron, and its mirror counterpart could potentially answer various standing issues in physics today. Astrophysical studies and terrestrial experiments led by ultracold neutron storage measurements have investigated neutron to mirror-neutron oscillations and imposed constraints on the theoretical parameters. Recently, further analysis of these ultracold neutron storage experiments has yielded statistically significant anomalous signals that may be interpreted as neutron to mirror-neutron oscillations, assuming nonzero mirror magnetic fields. The neutron electric dipole moment collaboration performed a dedicated search at the Paul Scherrer Institute and found no evidence of neutron to mirrorneutron oscillations. Thereby, the following new lower limits on the oscillation time were obtained: tau(nn') > 352s at B' = 0(95% C.L.), tau(nn') > 6s for 0.4 mu T < B' < 25.7 mu T(95% C.L.), and tau(nn') /root cos beta > 9s for 5.0 mu T < B' < 25.4 mu T (95% C.L.), where beta is the fixed angle between the applied magnetic field and the local mirror magnetic field, which is assumed to be bound to the Earth. These new constraints are the best measured so far around B' similar to 10 mu T and B' similar to 20 mu T. (C) 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Automated summary

Researchers proposed the existence of mirror copies of standard model particles, and experiments have provided evidence to support this hypothesis. By studying neutron to mirror-neutron oscillations, they have imposed constraints on theoretical parameters and detected anomalous signals, potentially indicating the existence of oscillations between neutrons and mirror-neutrons.