Search

The observation of the Coherent Elastic Neutrino-Nucleus Scattering (CE$\nu$NS) process using reactor antineutrinos offers a unique opportunity to probe the Standard Model and explore Beyond the Standard Model scenarios. This study reports on the latest results from the CONUS+ experiment conducted at the Leibstadt nuclear power plant (KKL), Switzerland. The CONUS collaboration reports $395 \pm 106$ events detected from reactor antineutrinos with an exposure of 347 kg$\cdot$days, utilizing high-purity germanium detectors operated at sub-keV thresholds. A $\chi^2$-based statistical analysis was performed on these results, incorporating systematic uncertainties. This analysis was used to extract the weak mixing angle, establish a limit on the neutrino magnetic moment, and impose constraints on neutrino non-standard interactions using reactor antineutrinos. The results confirm the potential of CE$\nu$NS experiments in the study of fundamental neutrino properties and probing new physics., Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures

The FASER{\nu} experiment has detected the first neutrino events coming from LHC. Near future high-statistic neutrino samples will allow us to search for new physics within the neutrino sector. Motivated by the forthcoming promising FASER{\nu} neutrino data, and its succesor, FASER{\nu}2, we study its potential for testing the unitarity of the neutrino lepton mixing matrix. Although it would be challenging for FASER{\nu} and FASER{\nu}2 to have strong constraints on this kind of new physics, we discuss its role in contributing to a future improved global analysis., Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures, preprint

We investigate the sensitivity of the FASER$\nu$ detector, a novel experimental setup at the LHC, to probe and constrain generalized neutrino interactions (GNI). Employing a comprehensive theoretical framework, we model the effects of generalized neutrino interactions on neutrino-nucleon deep inelastic scattering processes within the FASER$\nu$ detector. By considering all the neutrino channels produced at the LHC, we perform a statistical analysis to determine the sensitivity of FASER$\nu$ to constrain these interactions. Our results demonstrate that FASER$\nu$ can place stringent constraints on the GNI effective couplings. Additionally, we study the relation between GNI and a minimal Leptoquark model where the SM is augmented by a singlet Leptoquark with hypercharge $1/3$. We have found that the sensitivities for various combinations of the Leptoquark Yukawa couplings are approximately $\mathcal{O}(1)$, particularly when considering a Leptoquark mass in the TeV range., Comment: 26 pages, 15 figures

Coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CE$\nu$NS) is a process in which neutrinos scatter on a nucleus which acts as a single particle. Though the total cross section is large by neutrino standards, CE$\nu$NS has long proven difficult to detect, since the deposited energy into the nucleus is $\sim$ keV. In 2017, the COHERENT collaboration announced the detection of CE$\nu$NS using a stopped-pion source with CsI detectors, followed up the detection of CE$\nu$NS using an Ar target. The detection of CE$\nu$NS has spawned a flurry of activities in high-energy physics, inspiring new constraints on beyond the Standard Model (BSM) physics, and new experimental methods. The CE$\nu$NS process has important implications for not only high-energy physics, but also astrophysics, nuclear physics, and beyond. This whitepaper discusses the scientific importance of CE$\nu$NS, highlighting how present experiments such as COHERENT are informing theory, and also how future experiments will provide a wealth of information across the aforementioned fields of physics., Comment: contribution to Snowmasss 2021. Contact authors: P. S. Barbeau, R. Strauss, L. E. Strigari

The sensitivity to New Physics of a low threshold scintillating argon bubble chamber measuring coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering in reactors is reported. Namely, light scalar mediators, sterile neutrino oscillations, unitarity violation, and non-standard interactions are studied. The results indicate that this detector could be able to set stronger constraints than current limits set by the recent COHERENT measurements. Considering the best scenario, a 100 kg detector located 30 m from a 2000 MW$_{th}$ reactor, a sterile neutrino search would cover most of the space parameter allowed from the reactor anti-neutrino anomaly fit. Unitarity violation studies could set constraints on $\alpha_{11}$ more stringent than the current oscillation experiments fit. A low threshold argon detector with very low backgrounds has the potential to explore New Physics in different scenarios and set competitive constraints.

We examine the potential to probe generalized neutrino interactions (GNI), exotic effective couplings due to new physics interactions beyond the Standard Model, in the coherent-elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering experiments in light of the latest COHERENT-CsI, and -LAr data. Our analysis focuses on scalar, vector and tensor flavored-GNI parameters. A combined analysis has been made to constrain these exotic couplings for the CsI and LAr detector. We further add the projected forthcoming reactor-based Scintillating Bubble Chamber detector to examine these couplings. It has been observed that the addition of reactor data strongly constrained electron flavor GNI., Comment: Now published in Physical Review D

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 explore the possibility of having a fermionic dark matter candidate within $U(1)'$ models for CE$\nu$NS experiments in light of the latest COHERENT data and the current and future dark matter direct detection experiments. A vector-like fermionic dark matter has been introduced which is charged under $U(1)'$ symmetry, naturally stable after spontaneous symmetry breaking. We perform a complementary investigation using CE$\nu$NS experiments and dark matter direct detection searches to explore dark matter as well as $Z^{\prime}$ boson parameter space. Depending on numerous other constraints arising from the beam dump, LHCb, BABAR, and the forthcoming reactor experiment proposed by the SBC collaboration, we explore the allowed region of $Z^{\prime}$ portal dark matter., Comment: Matches published version. 21 pages, 5 figures, 2 tables

We study generalized neutrino interactions (GNI) for several neutrino processes, including neutrinos from electron-positron collisions, neutrino-electron scattering, and neutrino deep inelastic scattering. We constrain scalar, pseudoscalar, and tensor new physics effective couplings, based on the standard model effective field theory at low energies. We have performed a global analysis for the different effective couplings. We also present the different individual constraints for each effective parameter (scalar, pseudoscalar, and tensor). Being a global analysis, we show robust results for the restrictions on the different GNI parameters and improve some of these bounds., Comment: 25 pages, 5 figures, 6 tables. References added. Matches published version in JHEP

The physics reach of a low threshold (100 eV) scintillating argon bubble chamber sensitive to Coherent Elastic neutrino-Nucleus Scattering (CE$\nu$NS) from reactor neutrinos is studied. The sensitivity to the weak mixing angle, neutrino magnetic moment, and a light $Z'$ gauge boson mediator are analyzed. A Monte Carlo simulation of the backgrounds is performed to assess their contribution to the signal. The analysis shows that world-leading sensitivities are achieved with a one-year exposure for a 10 kg chamber at 3 m from a 1 MW$_{th}$ research reactor or a 100 kg chamber at 30 m from a 2000 MW$_{th}$ power reactor. Such a detector has the potential to become the leading technology to study CE$\nu$NS using nuclear reactors., Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures. v2: figures added, minor changes. Matches published version

Reactor neutrino experiments provide a rich environment for the study of axionlike particles (ALPs). Using the intense photon flux produced in the nuclear reactor core, these experiments have the potential to probe ALPs with masses below 10 MeV. We explore the feasibility of these searches by considering ALPs produced through Primakoff and Compton-like processes as well as nuclear transitions. These particles can subsequently interact with the material of a nearby detector via inverse Primakoff and inverse Compton-like scatterings, via axio-electric absorption, or they can decay into photon or electron-positron pairs. We demonstrate that reactor-based neutrino experiments have a high potential to test ALP-photon couplings and masses, currently probed only by cosmological and astrophysical observations, thus providing complementary laboratory-based searches. We furthermore show how reactor facilities will be able to test previously unexplored regions in the $\sim$MeV ALP mass range and ALP-electron couplings of the order of $g_{aee} \sim 10^{-8}$ as well as ALP-nucleon couplings of the order of $g_{ann}^{(1)} \sim 10^{-9}$, testing regions beyond TEXONO and Borexino limits., Comment: 40 pages, 13 figures, 4 tables. SN1987A and Globular Cluster stars limits updated, references added

Recently the XENON1T collaboration has released new results on searches for new physics in low-energy electronic recoils. The data shows an excess over background in the low-energy tail, particularly pronounced at about $2-3$ keV. With an exposure of $0.65$ tonne-year, large detection efficiency and energy resolution, the detector is sensitive as well to solar neutrino backgrounds, with the most prominent contribution given by $pp$ neutrinos. We investigate whether such signal can be explained in terms of new neutrino interactions with leptons mediated by a light vector particle. We find that the excess is consistent with this interpretation for vector masses below $\lesssim 0.1$ MeV. The region of parameter space probed by the XENON1T data is competitive with constraints from laboratory experiments, in particular GEMMA, Borexino and TEXONO. However we point out a severe tension with astrophysical bounds and cosmological observations., Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures. V3: Few typos corrected and one reference added. Matches version published in PLB

We explore the potential to prove light extra gauge $Z^\prime$ boson inducing non-standard neutrino interactions (NSIs) in the coherent-elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CE$ \nu $NS) experiments. We intend to examine how the latest COHERENT-CsI and CENNS-10 data can constrain this model. A detailed investigation for the upcoming Ge, LAr-1t, and NaI detectors of COHERENT collaboration has also been made. Depending on numerous other constraints coming from oscillation experiments, muon $ (g-2) $, beam-dump experiments, LHCb, and reactor experiment CONUS, we explore the parameter space in $Z^\prime$ boson mass vs coupling constant plane. Moreover, we study the predictions of two-zero textures that are allowed in the concerned model in light of the latest global-fit data., Comment: 29 pages, 4 figures, 8 tables. Included analysis with latest CENNS-10 detector data. Discussion added. Version to appear in JHEP

Non-unitarity of the neutrino mixing matrix is expected in many scenarios with physics beyond the Standard Model. Motivated by the search for deviations from unitary, we study two neutrino counting observables: the neutrino-antineutrino gamma process and the invisible $Z$ boson decay into neutrinos. We report on new constraints for non-unitarity coming from the first of this observables. We study the potential constraints that future collider experiments will give from the invisible decay of the Z boson, that will be measured with improved precision., Comment: 20 pages, 11 figures

One of the main purposes of long-baseline neutrino experiments is to unambiguously measure the CP violating phase in the neutrino sector within the three neutrino oscillation picture. In the presence of physics beyond the Standard Model, the determination of the CP phase will be more difficult, due to the already known degeneracy problem. Working in the framework of non-standard interactions (NSI), we compute the appearance probabilities in an exact analytical formulation and analyze the region of parameters where the confusion problem is present. We also discuss some cases where the falsification of the NSI parameters can be done in long-baseline experiments., Comment: 13 pages, 4 multiple figures and one table. Title changed. Version accepted for publication in PRD

Neutrino oscillations are one of the most studied and successful phenomena since the establishment of the solar neutrino problem in late 1960's. In this work we discuss the exact expressions for the probability P_{\alpha\beta} in a constant density medium, in terms of the standard vacuum parameters and the medium density. Besides of being compact, these expressions are independent of any particular parametrization, which could be helpful in the application of unitary tests of the mixing matrix. In addition, we introduce a new approximation on P_{\alpha\beta} and compare it with the most commonly used, discussing their main differences., Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, To be published in Journal of Physics Conference Series (IOP). Joint Proceedings of the XV Mexican Workshop on Particles and Fields & the XXX Annual Meeting of the Division of Particles and Fields of the Mexican Physical Society

Neutrino oscillations are now a well-stablished and deeply studied phenomena. Their mixing parameters, except for the CP phase, are measured with good accuracy. The three-neutrino oscillation picture in matter is currently of great interest due to the different long-baseline neutrino experiments that are already running or under construction. In this work, we reanalyze the exact expression for the neutrino probabilities (in a constant density medium) and introduce an approximate formula. Our results are shown in a formulation that is independent of the parametrization and could be useful for unitary tests of the leptonic mixing matrix. We illustrate how the approximation, besides being simple, can reproduce the neutrino probabilities with good accuracy., Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures, new figure and additional discussion added. To be published in Phys. Rev. D