Neutron Oscillations and the Existence of Massive Neutral Leptons

Abstract

The neutron-antineutron transition which changes baryon number by two units is considered under some general assumptions. The resultant neutron oscillation time scale is found to vary as $M^4$, with $M$ the unification mass scale, if there exists a neutral, massive, Majorana lepton. In this case, the oscillation time scale is comparable to the proton lifetime. However, in the presence of matter or external magnetic fields, the detection of such oscillations, at the present time, seems improbable.