Search for neutron - mirror neutron oscillations in a laboratory experiment with ultracold neutrons

Understand

Mirror matter is considered as a candidate for dark matter.

• In connection with this an experimental search for neutron - mirror neutron (nn') transitions has been carried out using storage of ultracold neutrons in a trap with different magnetic fields.
• As a result, a new limit for the neutron - mirror neutron oscillation time has been obtained, tau_osc >= 448 s (90% C.L.), assuming that there is no mirror magnetic field larger than 100 nT.
• Besides a first attempt to obtain some restriction for mirror magnetic field has been done.