The electric dipole moment of the neutron: a cosmic seismometer?

One of the most striking successes of Grand Unified Theories is the possibility of understanding, qualitatively and quantitatively the observed baryon asymmetry in the Universe GUTS contain all the basic ingredients for creating the baryon asymmetry, and the expanding Universe provides for free an excellent way to get out of equilibrium at the appropriate times. A very interesting question which is often asked is whether there is some connection between the observed low energy CP-violation in the K-system and the CP-violation operating at superhigh energies and thus responsible for the observed baryon asymmetry. The usual answer is no! Recently, J. Ellis, M.K. Gillard, S.Rudez and the author (Phys. Lett. B, vol.99, p.101, 1981) have done some work towards a connection that may exist between the magnitude of the (still unobserved) electric dipole moment of the neutron (d/sub n /) and the magnitude of the observed baryon asymmetry (n/sub B//n/sub gamma /). This is a review of that work, but with strong emphasis on the physical consequences of such a possible relation between d/sub n/ and (n/sub B//n/sub gamma /) and less discussion of the technical details that lead to such a connection. (24 refs).