Constraining axial non-standard interactions of neutrinos with long baseline experiments

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential of long baseline neutrino experiments to detect axial non-standard interactions, which have been less constrained than vector NSI, by analyzing neutral current scattering events.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach to constrain axial NSI using data from MINOS, MINOS+, and DUNE experiments, highlighting a new avenue for discovering physics beyond the Standard Model.

Findings

Axial NSI could be hidden in long baseline experiment data.

Neutral current scattering events are sensitive to axial NSI.

Potential to discover new physics beyond the Standard Model.

Abstract

Thanks to a number of neutrino oscillation and Coherent Elastic neutrino Nucleus Scattering (CE$\nu$NS) experiments, the vector Non-Standard Interactions (NSI) of neutrinos have been well studied and constrained. We show that the long-sought-after new physics may hide in the ``axial" non-standard interactions rather than in the vector NSI. We then show how by studying neutral current scattering events in the detectors of long baseline experiments, MINOS, MINOS$+$ and DUNE, the impact of the axial NSI can be discovered.