Search

Recoil imaging entails the detection of spatially resolved ionization tracks generated by particle interactions. This is a highly sought-after capability in many classes of detector, with broad applications across particle and astroparticle physics. However, at low energies, where ionization signatures are small in size, recoil imaging only seems to be a practical goal for micro-pattern gas detectors. This white paper outlines the physics case for recoil imaging, and puts forward a decadal plan to advance towards the directional detection of low-energy recoils with sensitivity and resolution close to fundamental performance limits. The science case covered includes: the discovery of dark matter into the neutrino fog, directional detection of sub-MeV solar neutrinos, the precision study of coherent-elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering, the detection of solar axions, the measurement of the Migdal effect, X-ray polarimetry, and several other applied physics goals. We also outline the R&D programs necessary to test concepts that are crucial to advance detector performance towards their fundamental limit: single primary electron sensitivity with full 3D spatial resolution at the $\sim$100 micron-scale. These advancements include: the use of negative ion drift, electron counting with high-definition electronic readout, time projection chambers with optical readout, and the possibility for nuclear recoil tracking in high-density gases such as argon. We also discuss the readout and electronics systems needed to scale-up such detectors to the ton-scale and beyond., 77 pages, 20 figures. Submitted to the Proceedings of the US Community Study on the Future of Particle Physics (Snowmass 2021)

The $ν$BDX-DRIFT collaboration seeks to detect low-energy nuclear recoils from CE$ν$NS or BSM interactions at FNAL. Backgrounds due to rock neutrons are an important concern. We present a~\texttt{GENIE} and~\texttt{GEANT4} based model to estimate backgrounds from rock neutrons produced in neutrino-nucleus interactions within the rock walls surrounding the underground halls. This model was bench-marked against the $2009$ COUPP experiment performed in the MINOS hall in the NuMI neutrino beam, and agreement is found between experimental results and the modeled result to within $30\%$. Working from this validated model, a similar two-stage simulation was performed to estimate recoil backgrounds in the $ν$BDX-DRIFT detector across several beamlines. In the first stage utilizing~\texttt{GEANT4}, neutrons were tallied exiting the walls of a rectangular underground hall utilizing four different neutrino beam configurations. These results are presented for use by other underground experiments requiring estimations of their rock neutron backgrounds. For $ν$BDX-DRIFT, the second stage propagated neutrons from the walls and recorded energy deposited within a scintillator veto surrounding the detector and nuclear recoils within the detector's fiducial volume. The directional signal from the $ν$BDX-DRIFT detector allows additional background subtraction. A sample calculation of a $10\,$m$^3\cdot\,$yr exposure to the NuMI Low Energy (LE) beam configuration shows a CE$ν$NS signal-to-noise ratio of $\sim$2.5., Accepted by PRD. Covered by SCOAP

We reconsider the discovery limit of multi-ton direct detection dark matter experiments in the light of recent measurements of the coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering process. Assuming the cross section to be a parameter entirely determined by data, rather than using its Standard Model prediction, we use the COHERENT CsI and LAr data sets to determine WIMP discovery limits. Being based on a data-driven approach, the results are thus free from theoretical assumptions and fall within the WIMP mass regions where XENONnT and DARWIN have best expected sensitivities. We further determine the impact of subleading nuclear form factor and weak mixing angle uncertainties effects on WIMP discovery limits. We point out that these effects, albeit small, should be taken into account. Moreover, to quantify the impact of new physics effects in the neutrino background, we revisit WIMP discovery limits assuming light vector and scalar mediators as well as neutrino magnetic moments/transitions. We stress that the presence of new interactions in the neutrino sector, in general, tend to worsen the WIMP discovery limit., Comment: 17 pages, 6 figures, 3 tables. Matches published version

We discuss various aspects of a neutrino physics program that can be carried out with the neutrino Beam-Dump eXperiment DRIFT ($��$BDX-DRIFT) detector using neutrino beams produced in next generation neutrino facilities. $��$BDX-DRIFT is a directional low-pressure TPC detector suitable for measurements of coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CE$��$NS) using a variety of gaseous target materials which include carbon disulfide, carbon tetrafluoride and tetraethyllead, among others. The neutrino physics program includes standard model (SM) measurements and beyond the standard model (BSM) physics searches. Focusing on the Long Baseline Neutrino Facility (LBNF) beamline at Fermilab, we first discuss basic features of the detector and estimate backgrounds, including beam-induced neutron backgrounds. We then quantify the CE$��$NS signal in the different target materials and study the sensitivity of $��$BDX-DRIFT to measurements of the weak mixing angle and neutron density distributions. We consider as well prospects for new physics searches, in particular sensitivities to effective neutrino non-standard interactions., 14 pages, 10 figures, 1 table

The Magnificent CE$��$NS Workshop (2018) was held November 2 & 3 of 2018 on the University of Chicago campus and brought together theorists, phenomenologists, and experimentalists working in numerous areas but sharing a common interest in the process of coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CE$��$NS). This is a collection of abstract-like summaries of the talks given at the meeting, including links to the slides presented. This document and the slides from the meeting provide an overview of the field and a snapshot of the robust CE$��$NS-related efforts both planned and underway., The Magnificent CEvNS Workshop (2018), Nov 2-3, 2018; Chicago, IL, USA; 44 contributions

We discuss Majorana neutrino mass generation mechanisms at the two-loop order. After briefly reviewing the systematic classification of one-loop realizations, we then focus on a general two-loop classification scheme which provides a model-independent catalog for neutrino mass models at the two-loop order, 9 pages, 5 figures. Contribution to the proceedings of the 18th International Conference From the Planck Scale to the Electroweak Scale, May 25-29, 2015, Ioannina, Greece

The LHCb collaboration has recently reported on some anomalies in $b\to s$ transitions. In addition to discrepancies with the Standard Model (SM) predictions in some angular observables and branching ratios, an intriguing hint for lepton universality violation was found. Here we propose a simple model that extends the SM with a dark sector charged under an additional $U(1)$ gauge symmetry. The spontaneous breaking of this symmetry gives rise to a massive $Z^\prime$ boson, which communicates the SM particles with a valid dark matter candidate, while solving the $b\to s$ anomalies with contributions to the relevant observables., Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures. Few typos corrected, references added

Discrete Abelian symmetries ($\mathbb{Z}_N$) are a common "artifact" of beyond the standard model physics models. They provide different avenues for constructing consistent scenarios for lepton and quark mixing patterns, radiative neutrino mass generation as well as dark matter stabilization. We argue that these symmetries can arise from the spontaneous breaking of the Abelian $U(1)$ factors contained in the global flavor symmetry transformations of the gauge invariant kinetic Lagrangian. This will be the case provided the ultra-violet completion responsible for the Yukawa structure involves scalar fields carrying non-trivial $U(1)$ charges. Guided by minimality criteria, we demonstrate the viability of this approach with two examples: first, we derive the "scotogenic" model Lagrangian, and second, we construct a setup where the spontaneous symmetry breaking pattern leads to a $\mathbb{Z}_3$ symmetry which enables dark matter stability as well as neutrino mass generation at the 2-loop order. This generic approach can be used to derive many other models, with residual $\mathbb{Z}_N$ or $\mathbb{Z}_{N_1}\times \cdots \times \mathbb{Z}_{N_k}$ symmetries, establishing an intriguing link between flavor symmetries, neutrino masses and dark matter., 5 pages, 2 figures

In bilinear R-parity violation (BRpV), in which the superpotential includes a bilinear term between the lepton doublet and the up-type Higgs superfields, a sneutrino LSP can decay into pairs of heavy standard model states: W's, Z's, tops or Higgs bosons. These finals states can dominate over the traditionally considered bottom pair final state. This would lead to unique and novel supersymmetric signals with each supersymmetric event possibly producing two pairs of these heavy standard model fields. We investigate this possibility and find that the branching ratio into heavier states dominates when the bilinear term is much smaller than the sneutrino vacuum expectation value for a given sneutrino flavor. When BRpV is the only source of neutrino masses these decays can only dominate for one of the sneutrino generations. Relaxing this constraint opens these channels for all three generations., 26 pages, 8 figures. Different-flavor charged lepton modes included and their relevance discussed. Several plots updated to include these channels. New plot for sneutrino absolute decay branching ratios added. Conclusions unchanged. Version matches publication in JHEP (title changed in journal)

The main goals of the first "Workshop on FLAvor SYmmetries and consequences in accelerators and cosmology" (FLASY) was to summarize the theoretical status of flavor symmetries, bringing together young researchers in the field to stimulate discussions and new collaborations, with the aim of investigating possible new physics scenarios to be tested at the LHC, as well as in future neutrino, cosmology experiments and dark matter searches., Contributions of the 1st Workshop on Flavor Symmetries and consequences in Accelerators and Cosmology 11 - 14 July 2011, Valencia (Spain), 208 pages

In the standard seesaw model, finite corrections to the neutrino mass matrix arise from one-loop self-energy diagrams mediated by heavy neutrinos. We discuss the impact that these corrections may have on the different entries of the tree-level effective neutrino mass matrix, paying special attention to their dependence with the seesaw model parameters. We also briefly comment on the implications these corrections might have on low-energy neutrino observables., Comment: 3 pages, 2 figures. Prepared for the proceedings of the International Europhysics Conference on High Energy Physics, EPS-HEP 2011, Grenoble, France, July 21-27 2011

In supersymmetric models extended with an anomalous $U(1)_H$ different R-parity violating couplings can yield an unstable neutralino. We show that in this context astrophysical and cosmological constraints on neutralino decaying dark matter forbid bilinear R-parity breaking neutralino decays and lead to a class of purely trilinear R-parity violating scenarios in which the neutralino is stable on cosmological scales. We have found that among the resulting models some of them become suitable to explain the observed anomalies in cosmic-ray electron/positron fluxes., Comment: 19 pages, 3 figures. References added, typos corrected, accepted version in Phys Rev D

Extending the standard model with three right-handed neutrinos ($N_k$) and a second Higgs doublet ($\eta$), odd under the discrete parity symmetry $Z_2$, Majorana neutrino masses can be generated at 1-loop order. In the resulting model, the lightest stable particle, either a boson or a fermion, might be a dark matter candidate. Here we assume a specific mass spectrum ($M_1\ll M_2 < M_3 < m_\eta$) and derive its consequences for dark matter and collider phenomenology. We show that (i) the lightest right-handed neutrino is a warm dark matter particle that can give a $\sim$10% contribution to the dark matter density; (ii) several decay branching ratios of the charged scalar can be predicted from measured neutrino data. Especially interesting is that large lepton flavour violating rates in muon and tau final states are expected. Finally, we derive upper bounds on the right-handed neutrino Yukawa couplings from the current experimental limit on $Br(\mu\to e\gamma)$., Comment: 25 pages, 7 figures. A few clarifications and references added, collider physics improved, conclusions unchanged. Version matches publication in PRD (Title changed in journal)

Leptoquark-Higgs interactions induce mixing between leptoquark states with different chiralities once the electro-weak symmetry is broken. In such LQ models Majorana neutrino masses are generated at 1-loop order. Here we calculate the neutrino mass matrix and explore the constraints on the parameter space enforced by the assumption that LQ-loops explain current neutrino oscillation data. LQs will be produced at the LHC, if their masses are at or below the TeV scale. Since the fermionic decays of LQs are governed by the same Yukawa couplings, which are responsible for the non-trivial neutrino mass matrix, several decay branching ratios of LQ states can be predicted from measured neutrino data. Especially interesting is that large lepton flavour violating rates in muon and tau final states are expected. In addition, the model predicts that, if kinematically possible, heavier LQs decay into lighter ones plus either a standard model Higgs boson or a $Z^0/W^{\pm}$ gauge boson. Thus, experiments at the LHC might be able to exclude the LQ mechanism as explanation of neutrino data., Comment: 28 pages, 10 figures