Dark Matter-Neutrino Interconversion at COHERENT, Direct Detection, and the Early Universe

• Main Authors: Hurtado, Nicholas, Mir, Hana, Shoemaker, Ian M, Welch, Eli, Wyenberg, Jason
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 27-05-2020
• Subjects: Physics - Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics; Physics - High Energy Physics - Experiment; Physics - High Energy Physics - Phenomenology
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2005.13384

Phys. Rev. D 102, 015006 (2020) We study a Dark Matter (DM) model in which the dominant coupling to the
standard model occurs through a neutrino-DM-scalar coupling. The new singlet
scalar will generically have couplings to nuclei/electrons arising from
renormalizable Higgs portal interactions. As a result the DM particle $X$ can
convert into a neutrino via scattering on a target nucleus $\mathcal{N}$: $ X +
\mathcal{N} \rightarrow \nu + \mathcal{N}$, leading to striking signatures at
direct detection experiments. Similarly, DM can be produced in neutrino
scattering events at neutrino experiments: $ \nu + \mathcal{N} \rightarrow X +
\mathcal{N}$, predicting spectral distortions at experiments such as COHERENT.
Furthermore, the model allows for late kinetic decoupling of dark matter with
implications for small-scale structure. At low masses, we find that COHERENT
and late kinetic decoupling produce the strongest constraints on the model,
while at high masses the leading constraints come from DM down-scattering at
XENON1T and Borexino. Future improvement will come from CE$\nu$NS data,
ultra-low threshold direct detection, and rare kaon decays.