Physics – High Energy Physics – High Energy Physics - Phenomenology
Scientific paper
2011-07-22
Physics
High Energy Physics
High Energy Physics - Phenomenology
19 pages, 5 figures; v2: typos corrected, to appear in Phys. Rev. D
Scientific paper
We consider the sensitivity of fixed-target neutrino experiments at the luminosity frontier to light stable states, such as those present in models of MeV-scale dark matter. To ensure the correct thermal relic abundance, such states must annihilate via light mediators, which in turn provide an access portal for direct production in colliders or fixed targets. Indeed, this framework endows the neutrino beams produced at fixed-target facilities with a companion `dark matter beam', which may be detected via an excess of elastic scattering events off electrons or nuclei in the (near-)detector. We study the high luminosity proton fixed-target experiments at LSND and MiniBooNE, and determine that the ensuing sensitivity to light dark matter generally surpasses that of other direct probes. For scenarios with a kinetically-mixed U(1)' vector mediator of mass m_V, we find that a large volume of parameter space is excluded for m_DM ~ 1-5 MeV, covering vector masses 2 m_DM < m_V < m_eta and a range of kinetic mixing parameters reaching as low as kappa ~ 10^{-5}. The corresponding MeV-scale dark matter scenarios motivated by an explanation of the galactic 511 keV line are thus strongly constrained.
deNiverville Patrick
Pospelov Maxim
Ritz Adam
No associations
LandOfFree
Observing a light dark matter beam with neutrino experiments does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Observing a light dark matter beam with neutrino experiments, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Observing a light dark matter beam with neutrino experiments will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-677166