Search for antiproton decay at the Fermilab Antiproton Accumulator

TL;DR

This paper reports the first experimental limits on several antiproton decay modes, including muonic and rare decay channels, using data from the Fermilab Antiproton Accumulator, setting new constraints on antiproton stability.

Contribution

It provides the first explicit experimental limits on certain antiproton decay modes, including e- gamma gamma and e- omega, and improves constraints on muonic decay channels.

Findings

First limits on e- gamma gamma and e- omega decay modes.

Most stringent limit for pbar-> e- gamma: >7 x 10^5 years.

Most stringent limit for pbar-> mu- gamma: >5 x 10^4 years.

Abstract

A search for antiproton decay has been made at the Fermilab Antiproton Accumulator. Limits are placed on thirteen antiproton decay modes. The results include the first explicit experimental limits on the muonic decay modes of the antiproton, and the first limits on the decay modes e- gamma gamma, and e- omega. The most stringent limit is for the decay mode pbar-> e- gamma. At 90% C.L. we find that tau/B(pbar-> e- gamma) > 7 x 10^5 yr. The most stringent limit for decay modes with a muon in the final state is for the decay pbar-> mu- gamma. At 90% C.L. we find that tau/B(pbar-> mu- gamma) > 5 x 10^4 yr.