Neutrino Backgrounds to Dark Matter Searches

TL;DR

Neutrino coherent scattering presents an unavoidable background in dark matter detection experiments, potentially limiting their sensitivity to extremely rare WIMP interactions at cross sections as low as 10^{-46} cm^2.

Contribution

This paper analyzes the impact of neutrino coherent scattering as an irreducible background in future dark matter searches and quantifies its limiting effect on sensitivity.

Findings

Neutrino coherent scattering cross sections can reach 10^{-39} cm^2.

Future dark matter experiments aim for sensitivities down to 10^{-48} cm^2.

Neutrino backgrounds will limit dark matter sensitivity to about 10^{-46} cm^2.

Abstract

Neutrino coherent scattering cross sections can be as large as 10^{-39} cm^2, while current dark matter experiments have sensitivities to WIMP coherent scattering cross sections five orders of magnitude smaller; future experiments plan to have sensitivities to cross sections as small as 10^{-48} cm^2. With large target masses and few keV recoil energy detection thresholds, neutral current coherent scattering of solar neutrinos becomes an irreducible background in dark matter searches. In the current zero-background analysis paradigm, neutrino coherent scattering will limit the achievable sensitivity to dark matter scattering cross sections, at the level of 10^{-46} cm^2.