Neutrinos from the Sun can discover dark matter-electron scattering

TL;DR

This paper uses high-energy neutrino data from IceCube and DeepCore to set new constraints on dark matter-electron interactions via solar capture and annihilation, highlighting future detection potential.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method of probing dark matter-electron scattering through neutrino observations from the Sun, providing the strongest current constraints in a broad mass range.

Findings

Current datasets set the strongest constraints on DM-electron scattering cross section.

No excess neutrinos observed from the Sun in existing data.

Future neutrino telescope observations could potentially discover DM-electron interactions.

Abstract

We probe dark matter-electron scattering using high-energy neutrino observations from the Sun. Dark matter (DM) interacting with electrons can get captured inside the Sun. These captured DM may annihilate to produce different Standard Model (SM) particles. Neutrinos produced from these SM states can be observed in IceCube and DeepCore. Although there is no excess of neutrinos in the solar direction, we find that the current datasets of IceCube and DeepCore set the strongest constraint on the DM-electron scattering cross section in the DM mass range $10$\,GeV to $10^5$\,GeV. Therefore our work implies that future observations of the Sun by neutrino telescopes have the potential to discover the DM-electron interaction.