keV scale $\nu_R$ dark matter and its detection in $\beta$ decay experiment

TL;DR

This paper explores keV-scale right-handed neutrino dark matter within the $ u$SM model, proposing a detection method via mono-energetic electrons from neutrino capture in beta decay experiments, and discusses implications for neutrino properties and cosmology.

Contribution

It introduces a novel detection approach for keV-scale right-handed neutrino dark matter through beta decay experiments and analyzes the model's implications for neutrino mixing and cosmological entropy.

Findings

Longer lifetime of certain GeV-scale right-handed neutrinos when degenerate.

Enhanced mixing of keV-scale neutrino DM with active neutrinos within observational bounds.

Potential for detecting dark matter via mono-energetic electron signals in beta decay experiments.

Abstract

We study dark matter(DM) in the model with one keV scale right-handed neutrino $\nu_{R1}$ and two GeV scale right-handed neutrinos $\nu_{R2,3}$, the $\nu$SM. We find that one of the GeV scale right-handed neutrinos can have much longer lifetime than the other when two GeV scale right-handed neutrinos are degenerate. We show that mass and mixing of light neutrinos can be explained in this case. Significant entropy release can be generated in a reheating produced by the decay of one of the GeV scale $\nu_{R}$. The density of $\nu_{R1}$ DM can be diluted by two orders of magnitude and the mixing of $\nu_{R1}$ with active neutrinos is allowed to be much larger, reaching the bound from X-ray observation. This mixing can lead to sizeable rate of $\nu_{R1}$ capture by radioactive nuclei. The $\nu_{R1}$ capture events are mono-energetic electrons with keV scale energy away from the beta decay spectrum. This is a new way to detect DM in the universe.