Dark photon distortions of NO$\nu$A and T2K neutrino oscillations

TL;DR

This paper investigates how dark photons coupled to $L_-L_ au$ could affect neutrino oscillation experiments like NOA and T2K, setting limits on their properties and examining if they resolve experimental tensions.

Contribution

It provides new limits on $L_-L_ au$ dark photon parameters and assesses their impact on neutrino oscillation data, finding no significant resolution of experimental tensions.

Findings

Set leading limits on $g'$ versus $m_{A'}$

Found no significant alleviation of experimental tension

Re-examined the impact of dark photons on neutrino oscillations

Abstract

Dark photons coupling to $L_\mu-L_\tau$ lepton number difference are a highly studied light dark matter candidate, with potential to be discovered through their impact on terrestrial neutrino oscillation experiments. We re-examine this in the light of claimed tensions between the NO$\nu$A and T2K long baseline experiments, also taking into account data from the MINOS experiment. We obtain leading limits on the $L_\mu-L_\tau$ gauge coupling $g'$ versus dark photon mass $m_{A'}$, and find no statistically significant alleviation of the tension from inclusion of the new physics effect.