Signal from sterile neutrino dark matter in extra $U(1)$ model at direct detection experiment

TL;DR

This paper explores how direct detection experiments could identify decay products of sterile neutrino dark matter within specific $U(1)$ models, expanding the scope beyond traditional WIMP searches.

Contribution

It proposes a novel detection channel for sterile neutrino dark matter via decay products in $U(1)_{B-L}$ and $U(1)_R$ models, highlighting potential experimental signatures.

Findings

Decay of sterile neutrinos can produce energetic neutrinos detectable in experiments.

Direct detection experiments can probe sterile neutrino dark matter beyond WIMPs.

Light gauge boson interactions enable decay signatures in current detectors.

Abstract

We examine the possibility that direct dark matter detection experiments find decay products from sterile neutrino dark mater in $U(1)_{B-L}$ and $U(1)_R$ models. This is possible if the sterile neutrino interacts with a light gauge boson and decays into a neutrino and the light gauge boson with a certain lifetime. This decay produces energetic neutrinos scattering off nuclei with a large enough recoil energy in direct dark matter detection experiments. We stress that direct dark matter detection experiments can explore not only WIMP but also sterile neutrino dark matter.