The exotic singlet fermions $χ$, with a mass $m_χ\lesssim 50$ MeV, could be produced at the coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CE$ν$NS) experiments through the $ν{\mathcal N} \rightarrow χ{\mathcal N}$ process. Due to the coherent enhancement, it offers a unique way to study how $χ$ interacts with the Standard Model (SM) sector. Based on the most general dimension-6 effective Lagrangian, we perform a comprehensive study on the relevant interaction between $χ$ and the SM sector. From the current and future COHERENT and future CONUS experiments, we obtain the upper bounds on the Wilson coefficients for the dipole, scalar, vector, and tensor interactions. For $m_χ$ below 10 MeV, future CONUS data has the best sensitivity, while for $m_χ$ between 10 MeV$-50$ MeV, the current and future COHERENT bounds dominate. These limits are complementary to those from neutrino oscillation and collider searches. Moreover, the bounds do not depend on the charge conjugation property of $χ$, nor whether $χ$ is dark matter or not.
We calculate LSP-nucleus elastic scattering cross sections using some representative input in the restricted SUSY parameter space. The coherent matrix elements are computed throughout the periodic table while the spin matrix elements for the proposed $^{207}Pb$ target which has a rather simple nuclear structure. The results are compared to those given from other cold dark matter detection targets.
The momentum transfer dependence of the LSP-nucleus elastic scattering cross sections is studied. New imput SUSY parameters obtained in a phenomenologically allowed parameter space are used to calculate the coherent rate for various nuclear systems and the spin matrix elements for the proposed $^{207}Pb$ target. The results are compared to those obtained from other cold dark matter detection targets.
We carry out a relativistic calculation of the cross sections of electron-16O and -12C quasi-elastic scattering and quasi-free Delta production and compare with the (e,e') data systematically in the wide energy range of 0.5 - 1.5 GeV. Using the same formalism, we examine the mu-neutrino quasi-elastic scattering from 16O. The model incorporating the nuclear correlation effects agrees better with the electron-nucleus scattering data than a uniform Fermi-Gas model. In the neutrino quasi-elastic scattering, the nuclear correlation has an appreciable effect on the cross section of high-energy scatt…
The differential elastic cross sections of $^{12}$C -- $^{12}$C and $^{11}$Li -- $^{12}$C nuclei are calculated in the complete Glauber theory. The role of the possible correlations connected to the shell effects in $^{11}$Li nucleus is considered.
Coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering is a powerful probe of neutrino properties, in particular of the neutrino charge radii. We present the bounds on the neutrino charge radii obtained from the analysis of the data of the COHERENT experiment. We show that the time information of the COHERENT data allows us to restrict the allowed ranges of the neutrino charge radii. We also obtained for the first time bounds on the neutrino transition charge radii, which are quantities beyond the Standard Model.
We study the elastic scattering of the lightest neutralino with a nucleus in the framework of the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM) with explicit flavor preserving CP violation, including the one-loop CP-violating neutral Higgs-boson mixing effects induced dominantly by the CP phases in the top and bottom (s)quark sectors. We construct the most general form of the effective Lagrangian for the neutralino-nucleus scattering in the limit of vanishing momentum transfers and then we perform a comprehensive analysis of the effects of the complex CP phases on the mass spectra of the lighte…
Several experimental proposals expect to confirm the recent measurement of the coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CEvNS). Motivated in particular by the next generation experiments of the COHERENT collaboration, we study their sensitivity to different tests of the Standard Model and beyond. We analyze the resolution that can be achieved by each future proposed detector in the measurement of the weak mixing angle; we also perform similar analysis in the context of Non-Standard Interaction (NSI) and in the case of an oscillation into a sterile neutrino state. We show that the future p…
T-violating P-even magnetism is considered. The magnetism arises from the T-violating P-conserving vertex of a spin 1/2 particle interaction with the electromagnetic field. The vertex varnishes for a particle on the mass shell. Considering the particle interaction with a point electric charge we have obtained the T-violating P-even spin dependent potential which is inversely proportional to the cubed distance from the charge. The matrix element of this potential is zero for particle states on the mass shell, nevertheless, the potential contributes to the T-odd P-even neutron forward elastic sc…
We analyze the prospect of measuring the neutron form factor of a nucleus through the detection of neutrino-nucleus coherent elastic scattering. We predict numbers of events in a liquid noble nuclear recoil detector at a stopped pion neutrino source. We discuss the precision required to distinguish between different theoretical models for the form factor.
We explore the potential of current and next generation of coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CE$ν$NS) experiments in probing neutrino electromagnetic interactions. On the basis of a thorough statistical analysis, we determine the sensitivities on each component of the Majorana neutrino transition magnetic moment (TMM), $\left \vert Λ_i \right \vert$, that follow from low-energy neutrino-nucleus experiments. We derive the sensitivity to neutrino TMM from the first CE$ν$NS measurement by the COHERENT experiment, at the Spallation Neutron Source. We also present results for the next p…
We present new constraints on three different models, the so-called universal, $B-L$ and $L_μ-L_τ$ models, involving a yet to be observed light vector $Z'$ mediator, by exploiting the recent observation of coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CE$ν$NS) in argon and cesium-iodide performed by the COHERENT Collaboration. We compare the results obtained from a combination of the above data sets with the limits derived from searches in fixed target, accelerator, solar neutrino and reactor CE$ν$NS experiments, and with the parameter region that could explain the anomalous magnetic moment of…
Rates of coherent neutrino-nucleus elastic scattering at a high-intensity stopped-pion neutrino source in various detector materials (relevant for novel low-threshold detectors) are calculated. Sensitivity of a coherent neutrino-nucleus elastic scattering experiment to new physics is also explored.
The CENNS-10 experiment of the COHERENT collaboration has recently reported the first detection of coherent-elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CEvNS) in liquid Argon with more than $3 σ$ significance. In this work, we exploit the new data in order to probe various interesting parameters which are of key importance to CEvNS within and beyond the Standard Model. A dedicated statistical analysis of these data shows that the current constraints are significantly improved in most cases. We derive a first measurement of the neutron rms charge radius of Argon, and also an improved determination of …
New measurements of the coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CEvNS) are expected to be achieved in the near future by using two neutrino production channels with different energy distributions: the very low energy electron antineutrinos from reactor sources and the muon and electron neutrinos from spallation neutron sources (SNS) with a relatively higher energy. Although precise measurements of this reaction would allow an improved knowledge of standard and beyond the Standard Model physics, it is important to distinguish the different new contributions to the process. We illustrate t…
Neutrino-nucleus scattering $νA\to νA$, in which the nucleus conserves its integrity, is considered. We show that elastic interactions keeping the nucleus in the same quantum state lead to a quadratic enhancement of the corresponding cross-section in terms of the number of nucleons. Meanwhile, the cross-section of inelastic processes in which the quantum state of the nucleus is changed, essentially has a linear dependence on the number of nucleons. These two classes of processes are referred to as coherent and incoherent, respectively. The coherent and incoherent cross-sections are driven by f…
We have carried out a calculation of the inclusive electron scattering cross section off oxygen in the kinematical region corresponding to beam energies between 700 and 1200 MeV, where quasielastic scattering and single pion production are the dominant reaction mechanisms. The formalism developed and successfully applied to describe quasielastic scattering has been extended to include both delta production and non-resonant pion production. The results are in fairly good agreement with experimental data over the whole range of energy transfer, including the dip region between the quasielastic p…
Light neutral mediators, with mass $\lesssim 1$ GeV, are common features of extensions to the Standard Model (SM). Current astrophysical and terrestrial experiments have constrained the model parameter space, and planned experiments around the world promise continued improvement in sensitivity. In this paper we study the prospects for probing light neutral mediators using terrestrial stopped pion and reactor sources in combination with ultra-low threshold nuclear and electron recoil detectors. We show that the coherent neutrino-nucleus and neutrino-electron scattering channels provide compleme…
The paper presents a theoretical approach to the description of the relativistic scattering of a massive (neutral) lepton on a nucleus, in which the latter retains its integrity. The measurable cross section of this process includes the elastic (or coherent) contribution, when the nucleus remains in its original quantum state and the inelastic (incoherent) contribution, when the nucleus goes into another (excited) quantum state. Transition from the elastic scattering regime to the inelastic scattering regime is regulated automatically by the dependence of the form factors on the momentum trans…
In this paper, we revisit the expressions for the (double) differential event rates for elastic WIMP-nucleus scattering and discuss some unusual thoughts on (the incompleteness of) the uses of these expressions in (directional) direct Dark Matter detection physics. Several not-frequently mentioned (but important) issues will be argued and demonstrated in detail.
The effects of charge symmetry breaking in nucleon electromagnetic form factors on parity- violating elastic electron-12C scattering is studied, and found to be much smaller than other known effects. The analysis of a planned experiment is discussed.
We examine the current constraints and future sensitivity of Coherent Elastic Neutrino-Nucleus Scattering (CE$ν$NS) experiments to mixing scenarios involving a $Z^\prime$ which interacts via portals with the Standard Model. We contrast the results against those from fixed target, atomic parity violation, and solar neutrino experiments. We demonstrate a significant dependence of the experimental reach on the $Z'$ coupling non-universality and the complementarity of CE$ν$NS to existing searches.
The excitation of two particle-two hole final states in neutrino-nucleus scattering, not taken into account in Monte Carlo simulations for data analysis, has been advocated by many authors as the source of the excess cross section observed by the MiniBooNE collaboration in the quasi elastic channel. We analyse the mechanisms leading to the appearance of two particle-two hole states, and show that interference between the amplitudes involving one- and two-nucleon currents, not consistently included in existing calculations, plays a major role. A novel approach allowing to treat one- and two-nuc…
We propose the use of isotopically highly enriched detectors for the precise study of coherent-elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CEvNS). CEvNS has been measured for the first time in CsI and recently confirmed with a liquid argon detector. It is expected that several new experimental setups will measure this process with increasing accuracy. Taking Ge detectors as a working example, we demonstrate that a combination of different isotopes is an excellent option to do precision neutrino physics with CEvNS, test Standard Model predictions, and probe new physics scenarios. Experiments based on …
We re-investigate the neutralino-nucleus elastic scattering as a promising dark matter detection mechanism including contributions from the scalar-pseudoscalar mixing of neutral Higgs states and the induced phase between two Higgs doublets due to the CP-violating phases of the scalar top and bottom sectors in the minimal supersymmetric standard model. The spin-dependent part of the cross section turns out to be hardly affected by the CP-violating induced phase due to a mutually destructive unavoidable suppression mechanism of various relevant supersymmetric parameters. On the other hand, altho…
Two relativistic approaches to charged-current quasielastic neutrino-nucleus scattering are illustrated and compared: one is phenomenological and based on the superscaling behavior of electron scattering data and the other relies on the microscopic description of nuclear dynamics in relativistic mean field theory. The role of meson exchange currents in the two-particle two-hole sector is explored. The predictions of the models for differential and total cross sections are presented and compared with the MiniBooNE data.
We present recent measurements of neutrino charged current quasi-elastic (CC QE) scattering, nu_mu + p -> mu- + n. Measurements of CC QE on carbon near 1 GeV by MiniBooNE and SciBooNE, as well as measurements on iron at 3 GeV by MINOS, disagree with current interaction models, while measurements at higher energies on carbon by NOMAD show excellent agreement with those same models.
In this paper, as the first part of the third step of our study on developing data analysis procedures for using 3-dimensional information offered by directional direct Dark Matter detection experiments in the future, we present our double-Monte Carlo "scattering-by-scattering" simulation of the 3-dimensional elastic WIMP-nucleus scattering process, which can provide 3-D velocity information (the magnitude, the direction, and the incoming/scattering time) of each incident halo WIMP as well as the recoil direction and the recoil energy of the scattered target nucleus in different celestial coor…
Quasielastic double differential neutrino cross sections can be obtained in a phenomenological model based on the superscaling behavior of electron scattering data. In this talk the superscaling approach (SuSA) is reviewed and its validity is tested in a relativistic shell model. Results including meson exchange currents for the kinematics of the MiniBoone experiment are presented.
Coherent elastic neutrino scattering on the 40Ar nucleus is computed with coupled-cluster theory based on nuclear Hamiltonians inspired by effective field theories of quantum chromodynamics. Our approach is validated by calculating the charge form factor and comparing it to data from electron scattering. We make predictions for the weak form factor, the neutron radius, and the neutron skin, and estimate systematic uncertainties. The neutron-skin thickness of 40Ar40 is consistent with results from density functional theory. Precision measurements from coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scatterin…
The COHERENT collaboration measured coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CEvNS) for the first time at the Spallation Neutron Source at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, using a CsI[Na] detector. Here we discuss the nature of the CEvNS process, physics motivations, and experimental considerations for measuring CEvNS. We describe the CsI[Na] measurement, along with status and future of COHERENT.
After the first measurement of the coherent elastic neutrino nucleus scattering (CENNS) by the COHERENT Collaboration, it is expected that new experiments will confirm the observation. Such measurements will allow to put stronger constraints or discover new physics as well as to probe the Standard Model by measuring its parameters. This is the case of the weak mixing angle at low energies, which could be measured with an increased precision in future results of CENNS experiments using, for example, reactor antineutrinos. In this work we analyze the physics potential of different proposals for …
We consider the production of a new MeV-scale fermion in coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering. The effect on the measurable nucleon recoil spectrum is calculated. Assuming that the new fermion couples to neutrinos and quarks via a singlet scalar, we set limits on its mass and coupling using COHERENT data and also determine the sensitivity of the CONUS experiment. We investigate the possible connection of the new fermion to neutrino mass generation. The possibility of the new fermion being the dark matter particle is also studied.
A parton picture of inclusive quasi-elastic electron-nucleus scattering, where individual nucleons are treated as (non point-like) partons of the nucleus, is presented. All the necessary target-mass corrections to asymptotic scaling are evaluated and a new scaling variable is obtained. Recent inclusive data from Jefferson Lab are analyzed and shown to scale in terms of the new variable. The new approach allows to extract in a model-independent way the nucleon light-cone momentum distribution in the nucleus.
Rescattering following a neutrino-nucleus reaction changes the number, energy, and direction of detectable hadrons. In turn, this affects the selection and kinematic distributions of subsamples of neutrino events used for interaction or oscillation analysis. This technical note focuses on three forms of two-body rescattering. Elastic hadron+nucleus scattering primarily changes the direction of the hadron with very little energy transfer. Secondly, a hadron+nucleon quasi-elastic process leads to the knockout of a single struck nucleon, possibly with charge exchange between the two hadrons. Also…
Interpretation of current and future neutrino oscillation and electron scattering experiments requires knowledge of lepton-nucleon and lepton-nucleus interactions at the percent level. We study the exchange of photons between charged particles and the nuclear medium for (anti)neutrino-, electron-, and muon-induced reactions inside a large nucleus. While quantum electrodynamics (QED)-medium contributions are formally suppressed by two powers of the electromagnetic coupling constant $α$ when compared to the leading-order cross sections, low-energy modes and the nuclear size enhance the effect by…
In several extensions of the Standard Model of Particle Physics (SMPP), the neutrinos acquire electromagnetic properties such as the electric millicharge. Theoretical and experimental bounds have been reported in the literature for this parameter. In this work, we first carried out a statistical analysis by using data from reactor neutrino experiments, which include elastic neutrino-electron scattering (ENES) processes, in order to obtain both individual and combined limits on the neutrino electric millicharge (NEM). Then we performed a similar calculation to show a estimate of the sensitivity…
We study the quasi--elastic contribution to the inclusive $(ν_l,ν_l N)$, $(ν_l,l^- N)$, $({\bar ν}_l,{\bar ν}_l N)$ and $({\bar ν}_l,l^+ N)$ reactions in nuclei using a Monte Carlo simulation method to account for the rescattering of the outgoing nucleon. As input, we take the reaction probability from the microscopical many body framework developed in Phys. Rev. {\bf C70} (2004) 055503 for charged-current induced reactions, while for neutral currents we use results from a natural extension of the model described in that reference. The nucleon emission process studied here is a clear signal fo…
We present an updated analysis of the coherent neutrino-nucleus elastic scattering data of the COHERENT experiment taking into account the new quenching factor published recently in Phys. Rev. D100, 033003 (2019). Through a fit of the COHERENT time-integrated energy spectrum, we show that the new quenching factor leads to a better determination of the average rms radius of the neutron distributions of $^{133}\text{Cs}$ and $^{127}\text{I}$, while in combination with the atomic parity violation (APV) experimental results it allows to determine a data-driven APV measurement of the low-energy wea…
The quasi-elastic contribution of the nuclear inclusive electron scattering model developed in A. Gil, J. Nieves, and E. Oset: Nucl. Phys. A 627 (1997) 543; is extended to the study of electroweak Charged Current (CC) induced nuclear reactions at intermediate energies of interest for future neutrino oscillation experiments. The model accounts for long range nuclear (RPA) correlations, Final State Interaction and Coulomb corrections. RPA correlations are shown to play a crucial role in the whole range of neutrino energies, up to 500 MeV, studied in this work. Predictions for inclusive muon capt…
In this article, we present the charged and neutral current coherent pion production in the neutrino-nucleus interaction in the resonance region using the formalism based on the partially conserved axial current (PCAC) theorem which relates the neutrino-nucleus cross section to the pion-nucleus elastic cross section. The pion nucleus elastic cross section is calculated using the Glauber model approach. We calculate the integrated cross sections for neutrino-carbon, neutrino-iron and neutrino-oxygen scattering. The results of integrated cross-section calculations are compared with the measured …
Neutrino-nucleus elastic scattering provides a unique laboratory to study the quantum mechanical coherency effects in electroweak interactions, towards which several experimental programs are being actively pursued. We report results of our quantitative studies on the transitions towards decoherency. A parameter ($α$) is identified to describe the degree of coherency, and its variations with incoming neutrino energy, detector threshold and target nucleus are studied. The ranges of $α$ which can be probed with realistic neutrino experiments are derived, indicating complementarity between projec…
We consider contributions of the open-string singlet~(OSS) interaction to the proton-proton scattering. Modelling baryon and meson as instanton and open string in the effective QCD string model, the typical pomeron is identified with a massive spin-2 closed string. According to the open-closed string duality, the massive spin-2 closed string is accompanied by the open-string singlet interaction with universal coupling. The flat space 4-point open-string singlet amplitudes and cross sections are computed in the Regge limit. Including both the open and closed string pomerons, we fit the differen…
Dark matter (DM) direct detection experiments are entering the multiple-ton era and will be sensitive to the coherent elastic neutrino nucleus scattering (CE$ν$NS) of solar neutrinos, enabling the possibility to explore contributions from new physics with light mediators at the low energy range. In this paper we consider light mediator models (scalar, vector and axial vector) and the corresponding contributions to the solar neutrino CE$ν$NS process. Motivated by the current status of new generation of DM direct detection experiments and the future plan, we study the sensitivity of light mediat…
Coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CE$ν$NS), a process recently measured for the first time at ORNL's Spallation Neutron Source, is directly sensitive to the weak form factor of the nucleus. The European Spallation Source (ESS), presently under construction, will generate the most intense pulsed neutrino flux suitable for the detection of CE$ν$NS. In this paper we quantify its potential to determine the root mean square radius of the point-neutron distribution, for a variety of target nuclei and a suite of detectors. To put our results in context we also derive, for the first time, …
The sensitivity to New Physics of a low threshold scintillating argon bubble chamber measuring coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering in reactors is reported. Namely, light scalar mediators, sterile neutrino oscillations, unitarity violation, and non-standard interactions are studied. The results indicate that this detector could be able to set stronger constraints than current limits set by the recent COHERENT measurements. Considering the best scenario, a 100 kg detector located 30 m from a 2000 MW$_{th}$ reactor, a sterile neutrino search would cover most of the space parameter allowe…
The Quasi-Elastic (QE) contribution of the nuclear inclusive electron scattering model developed in Nucl. Phys. A627 (1997) 543 is extended to the study of electroweak Charged Current (CC) induced nuclear reactions, at intermediate energies of interest for future neutrino oscillation experiments. The model accounts for, among other nuclear effects, long range nuclear (RPA) correlations, Final State Interaction (FSI) and Coulomb corrections. Predictions for the inclusive muon capture in $^{12}$C and the reaction $^{12}$C $(ν_μ,μ^-)X$ near threshold are also given. RPA correlations are shown to …
Potential applications of neutrino detection to nuclear security have been discussed since the 1970s. Recent years have seen great progress in detector technologies based on inverse beta decay, with the demonstration of ton-scale surface-level detectors capable of high quality neutrino spectrum measurements. At the same time coherent elastic neutrino nucleus scattering has been experimentally confirmed in 2017 with neutrinos from stopped pion decay and there is a number of experiments aimed at seeing this reaction with reactor neutrinos. The large cross section and threshold-less nature of thi…
