Signatures of sub-GeV dark matter beams at neutrino experiments

TL;DR

This paper investigates how high-luminosity fixed-target neutrino experiments can detect sub-GeV dark matter particles produced via light mediators, by analyzing their elastic scattering signatures that mimic neutrino interactions.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of the sensitivity of MiniBooNE, MINOS, and T2K to light dark matter beams, highlighting their potential to detect sub-GeV dark matter through elastic scattering signatures.

Findings

Fixed target experiments can detect sub-GeV dark matter via elastic scattering.

Dark matter signals can mimic neutrino neutral current interactions.

Event rate estimates inform experimental sensitivity to light dark matter.

Abstract

We study the high-luminosity fixed-target neutrino experiments at MiniBooNE, MINOS and T2K and analyze their sensitivity to light stable states, focusing on MeV--GeV scale dark matter. Thermal relic dark matter scenarios in the sub-GeV mass range require the presence of light mediators, whose coupling to the Standard Model facilitates annihilation in the early universe and allows for the correct thermal relic abundance. The mediators in turn provide a production channel for dark matter at colliders or fixed targets, and as a consequence the neutrino beams generated at fixed targets may contain an additional beam of light dark matter. The signatures of this beam include elastic scattering off electrons or nucleons in the (near-)detector, which closely mimics the neutral current scattering of neutrinos. We determine the event rate at modern fixed target facilities and the ensuing sensitivity to sub-GeV dark matter.