On neutron-antineutron oscillation processes in solar cosmic-rays and the possibility of their observation

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential detection of neutron-antineutron oscillations through solar cosmic rays during solar flares, proposing a novel astrophysical approach to observe these rare processes beyond laboratory experiments.

Contribution

It introduces the idea that solar cosmic rays could reveal neutron-antineutron oscillations, leveraging long travel distances and weak magnetic fields in space as advantageous conditions.

Findings

Estimated fluxes of antineutrons and antiprotons near Earth.

Proposed solar cosmic-ray observations as a new method.

Discussed conditions favoring oscillation detection.

Abstract

The experimental observation of neutron - antineutron oscillations is one of the oldest problems of elementary-particle physics. However, the search for these processes in the laboratories on the Earth have thus far yielded no results. In this paper, we consider the possibility of finding $n - \tilde n$ oscillations in the solar cosmic rays at flare increases. There are two arguments in favour of such an approach to this problem: a long distance for a neutron run and a weak magnetic field in the solar cosmic-ray environment. Therefore, the presence of antinucleons in solar cosmic rays may be a evidence of the existence of $n - \tilde n$ oscillations. The intensities expected of the $\tilde n$ and $\tilde p$ fluxes near the Earth are found.