Neutrino magnetic moments in low-energy neutrino scattering on condensed matter systems

Georgy Donchenko,Alexander Studenikin,Konstantin Kouzakov

doi:10.1088/1742-6596/2156/1/012231

Abstract

The cross sections of elastic neutrino scattering on electrons and nuclei in the regime of low-energy transfer are known to be very sensitive to neutrino electromagnetic properties. In particular, the magnetic moment of the neutrino can be effectively searched using liquid or solid detectors with a very low energy threshold. We present the formalism that incorporates the neutrino magnetic moment contribution in the theoretical treatment of the low-energy elastic neutrino scattering on a condensed-matter target. The concept of the dynamic structure factor is employed to describe the collective effects in the target. The differential cross section for tritium antineutrino scattering on the superfluid 4He is calculated numerically. We find that the neutrino magnetic moment of the order of 10−11 μB strongly affects the cross section. Our results can be used in the search of neutrino magnetic moments in future low-energy neutrino scattering experiments with liquid or solid targets.

Highlights

It was proposed to study the coherent elastic neutrino-atom scattering [1] using a superfluid 4He detector of light dark matter particles [2]
The detector is sensitive to low-energy signals on the order of ∼1 meV, and this feature can be effectively exploited for searching the neutrino magnetic moment [3]
In the present work we develop a formalism which takes into account the neutrino magnetic moment effects in the process of low-energy neutrino scattering on atoms in a liquid or a solid target

Summary

Introduction

It was proposed to study the coherent elastic neutrino-atom scattering [1] using a superfluid 4He detector of light dark matter particles [2]. The detector is sensitive to low-energy signals on the order of ∼1 meV, and this feature can be effectively exploited for searching the neutrino magnetic moment [3]. In the present work we develop a formalism which takes into account the neutrino magnetic moment effects in the process of low-energy neutrino scattering on atoms in a liquid or a solid target. In our formalism we account for the collective effects due to the interaction between the atoms in the target

Theoretical formulation

Summary and conclusions