New Interference Effects from Light Gauge Bosons in Neutrino-Electron Scattering

TL;DR

This paper explores how light gauge bosons can cause unique interference effects in neutrino-electron scattering, potentially improving detection sensitivity and allowing distinction between mediator types in experiments like DUNE.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of destructive interference effects from light gauge bosons in neutrino-electron scattering, highlighting their potential to enhance experimental sensitivity and mediator discrimination.

Findings

Destructive interference causes deficits in differential cross-sections.

Sensitivity can be improved by analyzing neutrino and antineutrino modes separately.

The method can distinguish between different gauge boson mediators.

Abstract

We point out that light gauge boson mediators could induce new interference effects in neutrino-electron scattering that can be used to enhance the sensitivity of neutrino-flavor-selective high-intensity neutrino experiments, such as DUNE. We particularly emphasize a destructive interference effect, leading to a deficit between the Standard Model expectation and the experimental measurement of the differential cross-sections, which is prominent only in either the neutrino or the antineutrino mode, depending on the mediator couplings. Therefore, the individual neutrino (or antineutrino) mode could allow for sensitivity reaches superior to the combined analysis, and moreover, could distinguish between different types of gauge boson mediators.