Abstract
A search for neutron-antineutron ($n-\bar{n}$) oscillation was undertaken in Super-Kamiokande using the 1489 live-day or $2.45 \times 10^{34}$ neutron-year exposure data. This process violates both baryon and baryon minus lepton numbers by an absolute value of two units and is predicted by a large class of hypothetical models where the seesaw mechanism is incorporated to explain the observed tiny neutrino masses and the matter-antimatter asymmetry in the Universe. No evidence for $n-\bar{n}$ oscillation was found, the lower limit of the lifetime for neutrons bound in ${}^{16}$O, in an analysis that included all of the significant sources of experimental uncertainties, was determined to be $1.9 \times 10^{32}$~years at the 90\% confidence level. The corresponding lower limit for the oscillation time of free neutrons was calculated to be $2.7 \times 10^8$~s using a theoretical value of the nuclear suppression factor of $0.517 \times 10^{23}$~s$^{-1}$ and its uncertainty.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
