Neutron to Dark Matter Decay in Neutron Stars

TL;DR

This paper examines the hypothesis that neutron decay into dark matter could resolve neutron decay measurement issues, but finds it conflicts with astrophysical data on neutron star masses if the dark particle accounts for most dark matter.

Contribution

It demonstrates that neutron decay into dark matter is incompatible with current astrophysical observations if the dark particle is the dominant dark matter component.

Findings

Neutron decay into dark matter conflicts with neutron star mass data.

The dark particle cannot be the main component of dark matter under this decay hypothesis.

Abstract

Recent proposals have suggested that a previously unknown decay mode of the neutron into a dark matter particle could solve the long lasting measurement problem of the neutron decay width. We show that, if the dark particle in neutron decay is the major component of the dark matter in the universe, this proposal is in disagreement with modern astro-physical data concerning neutron star masses.