Search

Dark matter particles with Planck-scale mass ($\simeq10^{19}\text{GeV}/c^2$) arise in well-motivated theories and could be produced by several cosmological mechanisms. Using a blind analysis of data collected over a 813 d live time with DEAP-3600, a 3.3 t single-phase liquid argon-based dark matter experiment at SNOLAB, a search for supermassive dark matter was performed, looking for multiple-scatter signals. No candidate signal events were observed, leading to the first direct detection constraints on Planck-scale mass dark matter. Leading limits constrain dark matter masses between $8.3\times10^{6}$ and $1.2\times10^{19} \text{GeV}/c^2$, and cross sections for scattering on $^{40}$Ar between $1.0\times10^{-23}$ and $2.4\times10^{-18} \text{cm}^2$. These are used to constrain two composite dark matter models.

We reanalize data collected with the DarkSide-50 experiment and recently used to set limits on the spin-independent interaction rate of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) on argon nuclei with an effective field theory framework. The dataset corresponds to a total (16660 $\pm$ 270) kg d exposure using a target of low-radioactivity argon extracted from underground sources. We obtain upper limits on the effective couplings of the 12 leading operators in the nonrelativistic systematic expansion. For each effective coupling we set constraints on WIMP-nucleon cross sections, setting upper limits between $2.4 \times 10^{-45} \, \mathrm{cm}^2$ and $2.3 \times 10^{-42} \, \mathrm{cm}^2$ (8.9 $\times 10^{-45} \, \mathrm{cm}^2$ and 6.0 $\times 10^{-42} \, \mathrm{cm}^2$) for WIMPs of mass of 100 $\mathrm{GeV/c^2}$ (1000 $\mathrm{GeV/c^2}$) at 90\% confidence level., Comment: Accepted by PRD

We examine the sensitivity of a large scale two-phase liquid argon detector to the directionality of the dark matter signal. This study was performed under the assumption that, above 50 keV of recoil energy, one can determine (with some resolution) the direction of the recoil nucleus without head-tail discrimination, as suggested by past studies that proposed to exploit the dependence of columnar recombination on the angle between the recoil nucleus direction and the electric field. In this paper we study the differential interaction recoil rate as a function of the recoil direction angle with respect to the zenith for a detector located at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso and we determine its diurnal and seasonal modulation. Using a likelihood-ratio based approach we show that, with the angular information alone, 100 events are enough to reject the isotropic hypothesis at three standard deviation level. For an exposure of 100 tonne years this would correspond to a spin independent WIMP-nucleon cross section of about 10^-46 cm^2 at 200 GeV WIMP mass. The results presented in this paper provide strong motivation for the experimental determination of directional recoil effects in two-phase liquid argon detectors., Comment: 16 pages, 14 figures. This new version matches the published version

Geo-neutrino studies are based on theoretical estimates of geo-neutrino spectra. We propose a method for a direct measurement of the energy distribution of antineutrinos from decays of long-lived radioactive isotopes., Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures. Proceedings of the International Conference on Topics in Astroparticle and Underground Physics (TAUP) 2007, Sendai, Japan, September 11-15, 2007. To appear in Journal of Physics: Conference Series

Order of magnitude estimates of radiogenic heat and antineutrino production are given, using the San Marco cathedral as an example. Prospects of determining the radiogenic contribution to terrestrial heat by detection of antineutrinos from natural radioactivity (geoneutrinos) are discussed. A three kton scintillator detector in three years can clearly discriminate among different models of terrestrial heat production. In addition, the study of geoneutrinos offers a possibility of improving the determination of neutrino mass and mixing, by exploiting the knowledge of Th/U abundance in the Earth., Comment: Based on the talk presented by G. Fiorentini at Tenth International Workshop on Neutrino Telescopes, March 11-14, 2003, Venice

We comment on the first indication of geo-neutrino events from KamLAND and on the prospects for understanding Earth energetics. Practically all models of terrestrial heat production are consistent with data within the presently limited statistics, the fully radiogenic model being closer to the observed value ($\approx 9$ geo-events). In a few years KamLAND should collect sufficient data for a clear evidence of geo-neutrinos, however discrimination among models requires a detector with the class and size of KamLAND far away from nuclear reactors. We also remark that the event ratio from Thorium and Uranium decay chains is well fixed $N(Th)/N(U) \simeq 0.25$, a constraint that can be useful for determining neutrino oscillation parameters. We show that a full spectral analysis, including this constraint, further reduces the oscillation parameter space compared to an analysis with an energy threshold $E_{vis}>2.6 MeV$., Comment: 12 pages, RevTeX file, 3 ps figures included in the correct order, corrected some typos and added references. Accepted for publication on Phys. Lett. B

With SNO data on electron-neutrino flux from the sun, it is possible to derive the $\nu_e$ survival probability $P_{ee}(E)$ from existing experimental data of Super-Kamiokande, gallium experiments and Homestake. The combined data of SNO and Super-Kamiokande provide boron $\nu_e$ flux and the total flux of all active boron neutrinos, giving thus $P_{ee}(E)$ for boron neutrinos. The Homestake detector, after subtraction of the signal from boron neutrinos, gives the flux of Be+CNO neutrinos, and $P_{ee}$ for the corresponding energy interval, if the produced flux is taken from the Standard Solar Model (SSM). Gallium detectors, GALLEX, SAGE and GNO, detect additionally pp-neutrinos. The pp-flux can be calculated subtracting from the gallium signal the rate due to boron, beryllium and CNO neutrinos. The ratio of the measured $pp$-neutrino flux to that predicted by the SSM gives the survival probability for $pp$-neutrinos. Comparison with theoretical survival probabilities shows that the best (among known models) fit is given by LMA and LOW solutions., Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures, references added

Energy and momentum of the elementary excitations become independent variables in medium: energy and momentum statistical distributions are not identical. The momentum distribution and not the energy distribution is relevant for barrier penetration. The deviations of the momentum distribution from the Maxwell-Boltzmann energy distribution can be expressed in terms of the imaginary part of the self-energy of the quasi-particle. It is possible to obtain an effective Tsallis' distribution for the kinetic energy. These effects are different from static or dynamical screening and can have important consequences for reaction rates in stars., Comment: 8 pages, no figures, uses ws-p8-50x6-00.cls, proceedings of "VIII Convegno di Fisica Nucleare Teorica, Cortona, 18-21 Ottobre 2000"

The excess of solar-neutrino events above 13 MeV that has been recently observed by Superkamiokande can be explained by the vacuum oscillation solution to the Solar Neutrino Problem (SNP). If the boron neutrino flux is 20% smaller than the standard solar model (SSM) prediction and the chlorine signal is assumed 30% (or 3.4 sigmas) higher than the measured one, there exists a vacuum oscillation solution to SNP that reproduces both the observed spectrum of the recoil electrons, including the high energy distortion, and the other measured neutrino rates. The most distinct signature of this solution is a semi-annual seasonal variation of the Be7 neutrino flux with maximal amplitude. While the temporal series of the GALLEX and Homestake signals suggest that such a seasonal variation could be present, future detectors (BOREXINO, LENS and probably GNO) will be able to test it., Comment: ReVTeX, 8 pages, 7 figures included using psfig.sty ; references and notes added

The He3 abundance is not constrained by helioseismic data. Mixing of He3 inside the solar core by processes not included in the solar standard model (SSM) has been recently proposed as possible solution to the solar neutrino problem. We have performed a model independent analysis of solar neutrino fluxes using practically arbitrary He3 mixing. In addition, we have been simultaneously varying within very wide ranges the temperature in the neutrino production zone and the astrophysical factors, S17 and S34, of the p+Be7 and He3+He4 cross sections. Seismic data are used as constraints, but the solar- luminosity constraint is not imposed. It is demonstrated that even allowing He3 abundances higher by factors up to 16 than in the SSM, temperatures 5% (or more) lower, the astrophysical factor S17 up to 40% higher, and varying S34 in the range (-20% ,+40%), the best fit is still more than 5 sigmas away from the observed fluxes. We conclude that practically arbitrary He3 mixing combined with independent variations of temperature and cross-sections cannot explain the observed solar neutrino fluxes., Comment: 15 pages in ReVTeX (tighten) and 3 postscript figures; version to appear in Phys. Rev. D (a few references and comments added)

The excess of solar-neutrino events above 13 MeV that has been recently observed by Superkamiokande can be explained by vacuum oscillations (VO). If the boron neutrino flux is 20% smaller than the standard solar model (SSM) prediction and the chlorine signal is assumed 30% (or 3.5 sigmas) higher than the measured one, there exists a VO solution that reproduces both the observed boron neutrino spectrum, including the high energy distortion, and the other measured neutrino rates. This solution might already be testable by the predicted anomalous seasonal variation of the gallium signal. Its most distinct signature, a large anomalous seasonal variation of Be7 neutrino flux, can be easily observed by the future detectors, BOREXINO and LENS., Comment: 6 pages, ReVTeX, 3 postscript figures; one figure and relative text added

The solar core, because of its density and temperature, is not a weakly-interacting or a high-temperature plasma. Collective effects have time scales comparable to the average time between collisions, and the microfield distribution influences the particle dynamics. In this conditions ion and electron diffusion is a non-Markovian process, memory effects are present and the equilibrium statistical distribution function differs from the Maxwellian one. We show that, even if the deviations from the standard velocity distribution that are compatible with our present knowledge of the solar interior are small, they are sufficient to sensibly modify the sub-barrier nuclear reaction rates. The consequent changes of the neutrino fluxes are comparable to the flux deficits that constitute the solar neutrino problem., Comment: 4 pages, to appear in the Proceedings of Nuclei in the Cosmos V

We present a quantitative estimate of the accuracy of the calculated diffusion coefficients, by comparing predictions of solar models with observational data provided by helioseismology. By taking into account the major uncertainties in building solar models we conclude that helioseismology confirms the diffusion efficiency adopted in SSM calculations, to the 10% level., Comment: 5 pages with 1 ps figure included, LaTeX file with l-aa.sty, submitted to Astronomy and Astrophysics

Nuclear reactions in stars occur between nuclei in the high-energy tail of the energy distribution and are sensitive to possible deviations from the standard equilibrium thermal-energy distribution. We are able to derive strong constraints on such deviations by using the detailed helioseismic information of the solar structure. If a small deviation is parameterized with a factor exp{-delta*(E/kT)^2}, we find that delta should lie between -0.005 and +0.002. However, even values of delta as small as 0.003 would still give important effects on the neutrino fluxes., Comment: 10 pages in ReVTeX + 1 postscript figure. Submitted to Phys. Lett. B

Density and temperature conditions in the solar core suggest that the microscopic diffusion of electrons and ions could be nonstandard: Diffusion and friction coefficients are energy dependent, collisions are not two-body processes and retain memory beyond the single scattering event. A direct consequence of nonstandard diffusion is that the equilibrium energy distribution of particles departs from the Maxwellian one (tails goes to zero more slowly or faster than exponentially) modifying the reaction rates. This effect is qualitatively different from temperature and/or composition modification: Small changes in the number of particles in the distribution tails can strongly modify the rates without affecting bulk properties, such as the sound speed or hydrostatic equilibrium, which depend on the mean values from the distribution. This mechanism can considerably increase the range of predictions for the neutrino fluxes allowed by the current experimental values (cross sections and solar properties) and can be used to reduce the discrepancy between these predictions and the solar neutrino experiments., Comment: 16 pages, ReVTeX, no figures. Text partially revised (24 april 1998)

After a short survey of the physics of solar neutrinos, giving an overview of hydrogen burning reactions, predictions of standard solar models and results of solar neutrino experiments, we discuss the solar-model-independent indications in favour of non-standard neutrino properties. The experimental results look to be in contradiction with each other, even disregarding some experiment: unless electron neutrinos disappear in their trip from the sun to the earth, the fluxes of intermediate energy neutrinos (those from 7Be electron capture and from the CNO cycle) result to be unphysically negative, or anyway extremely reduced with respect to standard solar model predictions. Next we review extensively non-standard solar models built as attempts to solve the solar neutrino puzzle. The dependence of the central solar temperature on chemical composition, opacity, age and on the values of the astrophysical S-factors for hydrogen-burning reactions is carefully investigated. Also, possible modifications of the branching among the various pp-chains in view of nuclear physics uncertainties are examined. Assuming standard neutrinos, all solar models examined fail in reconciling theory with experiments, even when the physical and chemical inputs are radically changed with respect to present knowledge and even if some of the experimental results are discarded., Comment: 88 pages, LaTeX, plus 30 figures added as separate uuencoded compressed postscript files. To appear in Physics Reports

Experimental determinations of the pp and pep fluxes have great potentialities. We briefly review the reasons that make such measurements privileged tests of neutrino properties. We discuss the predictions for these fluxes given by four good solutions to the solar neutrino problem: small- and large-angle MSW and Just-So oscillations into active neutrinos, and small-angle MSW oscillations into sterile neutrinos. In addition, we examine the impact of the planned Hellaz detector, which should measure separately the nu_e and nu_mu fluxes in the pp energy window and the signal from the pep neutrinos, for distinguishing among the different solutions and for determining the solar central temperature., Comment: 14 pages, ReVTeX, plus 9 postscript figures

We extract information on the fluxes of Be and CNO neutrinos directly from solar neutrino experiments, with minimal assumptions about solar models. Next we compare these results with solar models, both standard and non standard ones. Finally we discuss the expectations for Borexino, both in the case of standard and non standard neutrinos., Comment: 8 pages, LaTeX, plus 4 figures included via epsfig added as uuencoded compressed postscript files. Based on an invited talk given at TAUP 95, Toledo, Spain, September 1995. To appear in Nucl. Phys. B Proc. Supl

We discuss what appears the last hope for an astrophysical solution to the solar neutrino problem: a correlated variation of the astrophysical factors for the helium burning cross sections ($S_{33}$ and $S_{34}$) and either $S_{17}$ or the central temperature $T_c$. In this context, we recognize the important role played by the CNO neutrinos. In fact, we can obtain a fair fit to the experimental data only if three conditions are met simultaneously: the astrophysical factor $S_{33}$ is about 200 times what is presently estimated, the astrophysical factor $S_{17}$ is about 3 times larger and the $^{13}$N and $^{15}$O neutrino fluxes are negligible compared to the ones predicted by standard solar models. These conditions are not supported by the present data and their correlated combination is improbable., Comment: 11 pages, ReVTeX, plus 3 figures added as uuencoded compressed postscript files. The postscript file with the text and 3 figures is available at ftp://risc0.ca.infn.it/pub/private/lissia/infnca-th9511.ps

We find that vacuum oscillations (VO), large-mixing-angle and small-mixing-angle MSW solutions to the solar neutrino problem (SNP) give all very good fits to the most recent results. Measurements of the $^7$Be flux can, in some cases, discriminate between different solutions to the SNP; in particular, VO allow $^7$Be fluxes almost as large as the one predicted by the SSM. We find that no evidence for seasonal variations can be extracted from present data, but that the large statistics of SuperKamiokande should make possible to study a significant portion of the presently allowed parameter space by just looking for seasonal variations. We also discuss the Borexino potential for detecting seasonal variations, which looks really impressive., Comment: 21 pages, ReVTeX, 15 figures as uuencoded compressed postscript files. The postscript file with the text and 14 figures (no figure 4) is available at ftp://risc0.ca.infn.it/pub/private/lissia/infncath9512.ps . To appear in Astroparticle Physics

We show that present experiments imply that neutrinos are nonstandard at the 87\% C.L., independently of solar or nuclear physics. Moreover, if neutrinos are standard, the $^7$Be flux must be almost zero. Even if we arbitrarily disregard one of the experiments, the neutrino flux must still be less than half of the value predicted by standard solar models., Comment: 8 pages in RevTeX 3.0 plus 2 figures in uuencoded postscript files. Full postscript version available via anonymous ftp from risc0.ca.infn.it:/pub/private/lissia/infnfe-10-94.ps (192.84.132.4) Submitted to Physics Letters B

We generalize the concept of dimensional reduction to operators involving fermion fields in high temperature field theories. It is found that the ultraviolet behavior of the running coupling constant plays a crucial role. The general concept is illustrated explicitly in the Gross-Neveu model., Comment: 5 pages using world_sci.sty, which is appended to the file. Full postscript version available via anonymous ftp from risc0.ca.infn.it:/pub/private/lissia/infnca-th-94-17.ps (192.84.132.4) To appear in the Proceedings of the ``Workshop on Quantum Infrared Physics'', Paris, France, 6-10 June 1994

Within the framework of the operator product expansion (OPE) and the renormalization group equation (RGE), we show that the temperature and chemical potential dependence of the zeroth moment of a spectral function (SF) in an asymptotically free theory is completely determined by the one-loop structure of the theory. This exact result constrains the qualitative shape of SF's, and implies striking phenomenological effects near phase transitions., Comment: 5 pages using world_sci.sty, which is appended to the file. Full postscript version available via anonymous ftp from risc0.ca.infn.it:/pub/private/lissia/infnca-th-94-18.ps (192.84.132.4) To appear in the Proceedings of the ``Workshop on Quantum Infrared Physics'', Paris, France, 6-10 June 1994

The difficulties for non-standard solar models (NSSM) in resolving the solar neutrino problem are discussed stressing the incompatibility of the gallium--Kamiokande data, and of the gallium--chlorine data. We conclude that NSSM's cannot explain simultaneously the results of any two of the solar neutrino data (chlorine, Kamiokande and gallium). We address further the question whether the MSW solution exists for NSSM's (e.g. models with $^8$B neutrino flux much lower than the standard one and/or central temperature $T_c$ very different from $T_c^{\text{SSM}}$). We demonstrate that the MSW solution exists and is very stable relative to changes of $S_{17}$ ($S$-factor for $p$ + $^7$Be reaction) and $T_c$. In particular, $\Delta m^2$ is almost constant while $\sin^2 2\theta$ depends on the exact values of $S_{17}$ (or $^8$B-neutrino flux) and $T_c$., Comment: 13 pages in RevTeX 3.0 plus 3 figures in uuencoded postscript files. Full postscript version available via anonymous ftp from risc0.ca.infn.it:/pub/private/lissia/lngs-94-104.ps (192.84.132.4) Submitted to Physics Letters B