Probing sterile neutrino dark matter in the PTOLEMY-like experiment

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential to detect sterile neutrino dark matter via Tritium beta-decay experiments like PTOLEMY, focusing on models with varied early Universe production mechanisms that enhance detection prospects.

Contribution

It introduces new scenarios with low-reheating temperatures or phase transitions that significantly increase sterile neutrino detection rates without conflicting with cosmological constraints.

Findings

Capture rate can reach around 10 events per year in certain models.

Detection prospects are improved in scenarios with non-standard early Universe conditions.

Sterile neutrinos with masses 1 eV - 10 keV remain viable dark matter candidates.

Abstract

We study the prospect to detect the cosmic background of sterile neutrinos in the Tritium $\beta$-decay, such as PTOLEMY-like experiments. The sterile neutrino with mass between 1 eV - 10 keV may contribute to the local density as warm or cold DM component. In this study, we investigate the possibility for searching them in the models with different production in the early Universe, without assuming sterile neutrino as full dark matter component. In these models, especially with low-reheating temperature or phase transition, the capture rate per year can be greatly enhanced to be $\mathcal O(10)$ without violating other astrophysical and cosmological observations.