Strong new limits on light dark matter from neutrino experiments

Cappiello, Christopher V.; Beacom, J. F.

doi:10.1103/physrevd.100.103011

Cited by 135 publications

(129 citation statements)

References 131 publications

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“…and decay [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28]; third, by energy transfer through elastic scattering with nuclei and electrons. Laboratory directdetection experiments [29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39] provide the tightest bounds on dark matter-nucleus elastic scattering cross sections, with other constraints provided by cosmology and astrophysics [40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58]. While there are no robust signals yet, progress is rapid.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Not as big as a barn: Upper bounds on dark matter-nucleus cross sections

et al. 2019

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Critical probes of dark matter come from tests of its elastic scattering with nuclei. The results are typically assumed to be model independent, meaning that the form of the potential need not be specified and that the cross sections on different nuclear targets can be simply related to the cross section on nucleons. For pointlike spin-independent scattering, the assumed scaling relation is σ χA ∝ A 2 μ 2 A σ χN ∝ A 4 σ χN , where the A 2 comes from coherence and the μ 2 A ≃ A 2 m 2 N from kinematics for m χ ≫ m A. Here we calculate where model independence ends, i.e., where the cross section becomes so large that it violates its defining assumptions. We show that the assumed scaling relations generically fail for dark matter-nucleus cross sections σ χA ∼ 10 −32-10 −27 cm 2 , significantly below the geometric sizes of nuclei and well within the regime probed by underground detectors. Last, we show on theoretical grounds, and in light of existing limits on light mediators, that pointlike dark matter cannot have σ χN ≳ 10 −25 cm 2 , above which many claimed constraints originate from cosmology and astrophysics. The most viable way to have such large cross sections is composite dark matter, which introduces significant additional model dependence through the choice of form factor. All prior limits on dark matter with cross sections σ χN > 10 −32 cm 2 with m χ ≳ 1 GeV must therefore be reevaluated and reinterpreted.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Not as big as a barn: Upper bounds on dark matter-nucleus cross sections

et al. 2019

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“…4 Most of them are typically weaker than the bounds from nucleon (electron) direct detection experiments for GeV (MeV) scale DM. One example is the limit derived with direct detection and neutrino experiments, utilizing solaror cosmic ray-upscattered DM [113][114][115][116][117]. For velocityindependent scatterings, the upper bound on σ χN can be as stringent as 10 −31 cm 2 for MeV DM [115,117], but becomes much weaker in the presence of a light mediator [118].…”

Section: A Scattering Between Dm and Sm Particlesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One example is the limit derived with direct detection and neutrino experiments, utilizing solaror cosmic ray-upscattered DM [113][114][115][116][117]. For velocityindependent scatterings, the upper bound on σ χN can be as stringent as 10 −31 cm 2 for MeV DM [115,117], but becomes much weaker in the presence of a light mediator [118]. This is because the upscattering process with cosmic rays is dominated by energy exchange much larger than that in direct detection experiments, and thus does not get enhanced even if the mediator particle is much lighter than the reduced mass of the system.…”

Section: A Scattering Between Dm and Sm Particlesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Self-interacting dark matter without prejudice

et al. 2020

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The existence of dark matter particles that carry phenomenologically relevant self-interaction cross sections mediated by light dark sector states is considered to be severely constrained through a combination of experimental and observational data. The conclusion is based on the assumption of specific dark matter production mechanisms such as thermal freeze-out together with an extrapolation of a standard cosmological history beyond the epoch of primordial nucleosynthesis. In this work, we drop these assumptions and examine the scenario from the perspective of the current firm knowledge we have results from direct and indirect dark matter searches and cosmological and astrophysical observations, without additional assumptions on dark matter genesis or the thermal state of the very early universe. We show that even in the minimal setup, where dark matter particles self-interact via a kinetically mixed vector mediator, a significant amount of parameter space remains allowed. Interestingly, however, these parameter regions imply a metastable, light mediator, which in turn calls for modified search strategies.

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“…A subdominant population of DM particles with velocities exceeding the galactic escape velocity has also been considered in Refs [75][76][77][78][79][80][81][82][83]…”

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confidence: 99%

Direct detection and complementary constraints for sub-GeV dark matter

Bondarenko

Boyarsky

Bringmann

et al. 2020

J. High Energ. Phys.

101

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Traditional direct searches for dark matter, looking for nuclear recoils in deep underground detectors, are challenged by an almost complete loss of sensitivity for light dark matter particles. Consequently, there is a significant effort in the community to devise new methods and experiments to overcome these difficulties, constantly pushing the limits of the lowest dark matter mass that can be probed this way. From a model-building perspective, the scattering of sub-GeV dark matter on nucleons essentially must proceed via new light mediator particles, given that collider searches place extremely stringent bounds on contact-type interactions. Here we present an updated compilation of relevant limits for the case of a scalar mediator, including a new estimate of the near-future sensitivity of the NA62 experiment as well as a detailed evaluation of limits from Big Bang nucleosynthesis. We also derive updated and more general limits on DM particles upscattered by cosmic rays, applicable to arbitrary energy-and momentum dependences of the scattering cross section. Finally we stress that dark matter self-interactions place stringent limits independently of the dark matter production mechanism. These are, for the relevant parameter space, generically comparable to those that apply in the commonly studied freeze-out case. We conclude that the combination of existing (or expected) constraints from accelerators and astrophysics, combined with cosmological requirements, puts robust limits on the maximally possible nuclear scattering rate. In most regions of parameter space these are at least competitive with the best projected limits from currently planned direct detection experiments.arXiv:1909.08632v2 [hep-ph]

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Strong new limits on light dark matter from neutrino experiments

Cited by 135 publications

References 131 publications

Not as big as a barn: Upper bounds on dark matter-nucleus cross sections

Not as big as a barn: Upper bounds on dark matter-nucleus cross sections

Self-interacting dark matter without prejudice

Direct detection and complementary constraints for sub-GeV dark matter

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