Baryon number violation in supersymmetry: n − n ¯ $$ \overline{n} $$ oscillations as a probe beyond the LHC

Abstract

We study baryon number violation in R-parity violating supersymmetry with focus on ΔB = 2 processes which allow neutron-anti-neutron (n − $$ \overline{n} $$ ) oscillations. We provide prospects for going beyond the present limits by means of a new search for n − $$ \overline{n} $$ oscillations. The motivation is the recently proposed n − $$ \overline{n} $$ oscillation experiment at the European Spallation Source in Lund, which is projected to be able to improve the current bound on the transition probability in the quasi-free regime by three orders of magnitude. We consider various processes giving rise to baryon number violation and extract the corresponding simplified models, including only the relevant superpartners and couplings. In terms of these models we determine the exclusion limits from LHC searches as well as from searches for flavor transitions, CP violation and di-nucleon decays. We find that, for certain regions of parameter space, the proposed n − $$ \overline{n} $$ experiment has a reach that goes beyond all other experiments, as it can probe gluino and squark masses in the multi-TeV range.