Improving Dark Matter Searches by Measuring the Nucleon Axial Form Factor: Perspectives from MicroBooNE

TL;DR

This paper discusses how the MicroBooNE experiment's measurements of neutrino interactions can improve dark matter detection by better understanding the nucleon axial form factor, especially at low momentum transfer.

Contribution

It highlights the potential of MicroBooNE to measure the nucleon axial form factor at low $Q^2$, providing new data relevant for dark matter search sensitivities.

Findings

MicroBooNE can measure neutral-current elastic scattering cross sections at low $Q^2$

Results can inform dark matter detection strategies

Insights into the strange quark contribution to nucleon spin

Abstract

The MicroBooNE neutrino experiment at Fermilab is constructing a liquid-argon time-projection chamber for the Booster Neutrino Beam to study neutrino oscillations and interactions with nucleons and nuclei, starting in 2014. We describe the experiment and focus on its unique abilities to measure cross sections at low values of $Q^2$. In particular, the neutral-current elastic scattering cross section is especially interesting, as it is sensitive to the contribution of the strange sea quark spin to the angular-momentum of the nucleon, $\Delta s$. Implications for dark-matter searches are discussed.