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The X17 boson and the d(p,e+ e-)3He and d(n,e+ e-)3H processes: a theoretical analysis
Nuclear Theory · Submitted 29 Aug 2024
abstract compiled · 2026-09-23 · no language-model review
The authors' main claim The main aim of the study is to exploit the specular structure of the 3He and 3H nuclei to investigate the isospin dependency of the X17-nucleon interaction, as the alleged "proto-phobicity".
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The present work deals with the e+ e- pair production in the d(p,e+e-)3He and d(n,e+ e-)3H processes, in order to evidentiate possible effects due to the exchange of a hypothetical low-mass boson, the so-called X17. These processes are studied for energies of the incident beams in the range 18-30 MeV, in order to have a sufficient energy to produce such a boson, whose mass is estimated to be around 17 MeV. We first analyze them as a purely electromagnetic processes, in the context of a state-of-the-art approach to nuclear strong-interaction dynamics and nuclear electromagnetic currents, derived from chiral effective field theory chiEFT. Next, we examine how the exchange of a hypothetical low-mass boson would impact the cross sections for such processes. We consider several possibilities, that this boson is either a scalar, pseudoscalar, vector, or axial particle. The main aim of the study is to exploit the specular structure of the 3He and 3H nuclei to investigate the isospin dependency of the X17-nucleon interaction, as the alleged "proto-phobicity".
background contribution method result interpretation main claim
| # | sentence | role | the authors' own work | states the main conclusion | strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| s0 | The present work deals with the e+ e- pair production in the d(p,e+e-)3He and d(n,e+ e-)3H processes, in order to evidentiate possible effects due to the exchange of a hypothetical low-mass boson, the so-called X17. | contribution 0.98 | 0.67 | 0.04 | hedged possibility 0.51 |
| s1 | These processes are studied for energies of the incident beams in the range 18-30 MeV, in order to have a sufficient energy to produce such a boson, whose mass is estimated to be around 17 MeV. | method 0.87 | 0.30 | 0.03 | asserted 0.71 |
| s2 | We first analyze them as a purely electromagnetic processes, in the context of a state-of-the-art approach to nuclear strong-interaction dynamics and nuclear electromagnetic currents, derived from chiral effective field theory chiEFT. | method 0.96 | 0.66 | 0.03 | asserted 0.96 |
| s3 | Next, we examine how the exchange of a hypothetical low-mass boson would impact the cross sections for such processes. | contribution 0.67 | 0.84 | 0.03 | unclear 0.38 |
| s4 | We consider several possibilities, that this boson is either a scalar, pseudoscalar, vector, or axial particle. | method 0.80 | 0.70 | 0.02 | hedged possibility 0.54 |
| s5 | The main aim of the study is to exploit the specular structure of the 3He and 3H nuclei to investigate the isospin dependency of the X17-nucleon interaction, as the alleged "proto-phobicity". | contribution 0.89 | 0.28 | 0.12 | asserted 0.78 |
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Original abstract
The present work deals with the e+ e- pair production in the d(p,e+e-)3He and d(n,e+ e-)3H processes, in order to evidentiate possible effects due to the exchange of a hypothetical low-mass boson, the so-called X17. These processes are studied for energies of the incident beams in the range 18-30 MeV, in order to have a sufficient energy to produce such a boson, whose mass is estimated to be around 17 MeV. We first analyze them as a purely electromagnetic processes, in the context of a state-of-the-art approach to nuclear strong-interaction dynamics and nuclear electromagnetic currents, derived from chiral effective field theory chiEFT. Next, we examine how the exchange of a hypothetical low-mass boson would impact the cross sections for such processes. We consider several possibilities, that this boson is either a scalar, pseudoscalar, vector, or axial particle. The main aim of the study is to exploit the specular structure of the 3He and 3H nuclei to investigate the isospin dependency of the X17-nucleon interaction, as the alleged "proto-phobicity".
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What this paper does with the arXiv papers it cites
What it cites · 30 sentences without a confident label
Uses the method or tool of 13 papers
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We use the hyperspherical-harmonics (HH) method to determine them [ref] , by taking fully into account the three-body dynamics.
A high-precision variational approach to three- and four-nucleon bound and zero-energy scattering states · Introduction · 1.00
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We use the hyperspherical-harmonics (HH) method to determine them [ref] , by taking fully into account the three-body dynamics.
The Hyperspherical Harmonics method: a tool for testing and improving nuclear interaction models · Introduction · 1.00
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The matrix elements $j^μ_EM$ and $j^c_X$ can be decomposed i) by expressing the initial scattering wave function $Ψ_m_2,m_1$ in components of definite total angular momentum and parity and ii) performing a multipolar expansion of the operators (for more details, see Ref. [ref] ).
The X17 boson and the $^3$H$(p,e^+ e^-)^4$He and $^3$He$(n,e^+ e^-)^4$He processes: a theoretical analysis · Decomposition of the matrix elements · 0.95
Uses data or values from 3 papers
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These values were obtained in Ref. [ref] by reproducing the 2019 ATOMKI data for the process $(p,e^+ e^-)$, using the same NVIa3N interaction employed here.
The X17 boson and the $^3$H$(p,e^+ e^-)^4$He and $^3$He$(n,e^+ e^-)^4$He processes: a theoretical analysis · Results including the X17 boson · 0.99
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For $M_X≈17$ MeV, the most stringent lower bound, $|ε_e| > 2 ×10^-4$, comes from the SLAC E141 experiment [ref] , while the upper bound $|ε_e|< 2 ×10^-3$ has been set by the KLOE-2 experiment [ref] .
Limit on the production of a low-mass vector boson in $\mathrm{e}^{+}\mathrm{e}^{-} \to \mathrm{U}\gamma$, $\mathrm{U} \to \mathrm{e}^{+}\mathrm{e}^{-}$ with the KLOE experiment · Introduction · 0.96
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A nucleon beam with energy in the range 18-30 MeV impinging on a deuteron target can produce, in addition to elastic scattering, the following processes: 1) spallation, via the breakup process $d(p/n,pn)p/n$ ($σ_spall∼10^2$ mb [ref] ), 2) radiative capture, via the process $d(p/n, γ)/$ ($σ_capt ∼10$ $μ$b, see Table [ref]), 3) “standard” electromagnetic IPC, i.e. the process $d(p/n, e^+e^-)/$ ($σ_IPC ∼10^-2$ $μ$b, see Table [ref]), and 4) X17 electron-positron pairs (we have estimated that the corresponding cross section can be of the order of $σ_X17 ∼10^-3÷10^-4$ $μ$b).
Total cross section for p-d breakup below 30 MeV · Conclusions · 0.95
Cites as background 27 papers
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In Ref. [ref] , the possibility that the X17 could be a vector boson was investigated in detail.
Protophobic Fifth Force Interpretation of the Observed Anomaly in $^8$Be Nuclear Transitions · Introduction · 0.92
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Many other theoretical studies were published afterwards [ref] .
The Angular Correlations in the $e^+e^-$ Decay of Excited States in 8Be · Introduction · 0.98
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Many other theoretical studies were published afterwards [ref] .
Possible Explanation of the Electron Positron Anomaly at 17 MeV in $^8Be$ Transitions Through a Light Pseudoscalar · Introduction · 0.98
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