Abstract
We study prospects of dark matter searches in the SHiP experiment. SHiP (Search for Hidden Particles) is the recently proposed fixed target experiment which will exploit the high-intensity beam of 400 GeV protons from the CERN SPS. In addition to the hidden sector detector, SHiP will be equipped with the ν τ detector, which presumably would be sensitive to dark matter particles. We describe appropriate production and detection channels and estimate SHiP’s sensitivity for a scalar dark matter coupled to the Standard model through the vector mediator.
Highlights
We address the question of a possibility of dark matter (DM) search in the SHiP experiment
The main idea is to place a large detector (5 × 10 m2×50 m [2]) as close to the target as possible in order to maximize covered solid angle. This setup makes SHiP be a universal tool to probe any models of new physics containing light and long-lived particles which could be produced by protons on target and decaying into SM particles [1, 6, 7]
Models of light dark matter (DM) usually contain light mediator particles. Such mediators are required to provide the realistic value of DM abundance in the Universe [8]. The presence of these mediators provides a possibility to produce a beam of DM particles at fixed target experiments
Summary
The main idea is to place a large detector (5 × 10 m2×50 m [2]) as close to the target as possible (at a distance of about 60 m [2]) in order to maximize covered solid angle This setup makes SHiP be a universal tool to probe any models of new physics containing light and long-lived particles which could be produced by protons on target and decaying into SM particles [1, 6, 7]. In addition to it’s main purpose — the first direct observation of ντ — the tau neutrino detector will be capable of observing light DM particles, produced in the beam dump The possibility of this type searches was briefly discussed in Refs.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
