Neutrino experiments probe hadrophilic light dark matter

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how large-volume neutrino detectors like Super-K, Hyper-K, and DUNE can set new limits on sub-GeV dark matter interactions through cosmic-ray induced nuclear recoils, exploring previously untested parameter space.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method of probing light dark matter via cosmic-ray upscattering and nuclear recoils in large neutrino detectors, expanding the search for dark matter beyond existing experiments.

Findings

Super-K data constrains sub-GeV dark matter interactions.

Hyper-K and DUNE can achieve comparable sensitivities.

The proposed method explores new parameter space consistent with current theories.

Abstract

We use Super-K data to place new strong limits on interactions of sub-GeV Dark Matter (DM) with nuclei, that rely on the DM flux inevitably induced by cosmic-ray upscatterings. We derive analogous sensitivities at Hyper-K and DUNE and compare them with others, e.g. at JUNO. Using simplified models, we find that our proposal tests genuinely new parameter space, allowed both by theoretical consistency and by other direct detection experiments, cosmology, meson decays and our recast of monojet. Our results thus motivate and shape a new physics case for any large volume detector sensitive to nuclear recoils.