Nuclear effects in proton decay

TL;DR

This paper investigates nuclear effects such as Fermi motion and final state interactions in proton decay detection across different detector materials, providing key quantitative data for future experiments.

Contribution

It offers new quantitative analysis of nuclear effects and interaction probabilities relevant to proton decay detection in various detector media.

Findings

Provides nucleon energy distribution data

Calculates cross sections and mean free paths

Analyzes nuclear interaction probabilities

Abstract

Proton decay detection could put in evidence physics beyond the Standard Model (BSM). In this context, multiple projects are searching for such events. We focused our work on two of the expected decay modes, $p \rightarrow \pi^+ + \bar{\nu}$ and $p \rightarrow K^+ + \bar{\nu}$. Neutrinos are particles that interact very weakly with matter, so they are not of interest in our work. The detector materials investigated in this study include liquid argon (LAr), liquid xenon (LXe), and water (H$_2$O). Our analysis focuses on two key effects relevant to this decay process: the Fermi motion of nucleons and final state interactions. In addition to these effects, we have also examined the nuclear interaction of particles with the nuclei of the medium. This paper presents values for nucleon energy distribution, cross sections, mean free paths and interaction probabilities.