Why very cold neutrons could be useful for neutron-antineutron oscillation searches

Abstract

This note is based on a talk given at the “Workshop on Very Cold and Ultra Cold Neutron Sources for ESS”. It presents several arguments in favor of using very cold neutrons (VCN) for neutron – antineutron ( n − n ‾) searches. It also proposes a scheme for the implementation of a solid-deuterium VCN converter with a fluorinated detonation nanodiamond (F-DND) reflector that is optimized for an ( n − n ‾) experiment with VCN. An analysis of the feasibility of such a source, as well as its effect on the ( n − n ‾) experiment are beyond the scope of this short note. They will, however, be pursued in the near future in a collaborative manner.