Stream of dark matter as a possible cause of the opera clocks' synchronization signals delay

TL;DR

This paper proposes that a stream of dark matter particles could explain the OPERA experiment's observed neutrino signal delay, suggesting a novel link between dark matter and neutrino velocity measurements.

Contribution

It introduces a model where dark matter streams cause neutrino signal delays, providing a new interpretation of OPERA results and proposing a novel experimental test.

Findings

Delay of about 60 ns consistent with OPERA data

Neutrino velocity less than the speed of light by approximately 1.8 x 10^{-9}

Suggested experimental test with 7,800 km baseline

Abstract

A stream of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) gravitationally scattered outwards within the Earth yields a delay, \delta t \simeq 60 ns, in good agreement with the results of the OPERA experiment. Conversely, the OPERA experiment may be seen as the unveiling of the first hint of a dark matter particle probed with the photons of the GPS communication signals and using the neutrino beam of the CNGS as a velocity standard. Our analysis yields the true neutrino velocity, V_{\nu}, less than the speed of light in vacuum, one finds (V_{\nu} - c)/c = - (1.8 \pm 0.4) x 10^{-9}. A new experimental test still predicting \delta t \sim 60 ns instead of \delta t \sim 600 ns is suggested, based on the use of the long baseline of the order 7 800 km between either the Fermilab neutrino production site and the OPERA detector or the CERN neutrino production site and the MINOS detector.