Light particles with baryon and lepton numbers

We consider light new particles chi and phi that carry baryon and lepton numbers. If these particles are lighter than nucleons they lead to exotic decays such as p ->pi(+)chi and p -> e(+)phi, not yet fully constrained by dedicated searches. For chi and phi masses in the GeV range, proton decays are kinematically forbidden but other decays of the forms baryon -> meson + chi, meson -> baryon + chi over bar , and baryon -> anti-lepton + phi involving heavy initial hadrons are allowed. This opens up the possibility to search for apparent baryon number violation not just in underground experiments such as Super-Kamiokande and DUNE but also in decays of heavy hadrons in charm and B factories. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Automated summary

The study focuses on new light particles chi and phi carrying baryon and lepton numbers, which may result in exotic proton decays if they are lighter than nucleons. While proton decays are kinematically forbidden in some cases, other forms of decays involving heavy initial hadrons are allowed. This opens up the possibility to search for apparent baryon number violation in underground experiments and decays of heavy hadrons.