Monochromatic Neutrino Research Articles

Monochromatic neutrinos from dark matter through the Higgs portal

We define a minimal model of dark matter with a fermion singlet χ coupled to the visible sector through the Higgs portal and with a heavy Dirac neutrino N that opens the annihilation channel χχ → Nν. The model provides the observed relic abundance consistently with bounds from direct searches and implies a monochromatic neutrino signal at 10 GeV–1 TeV in indirect searches. In particular, we obtain the capture rate of χ by the Sun and show that the signal could be above the neutrino floor produced by cosmic rays showering in the solar surface. In most benchmark models this solar astrophysical background is above the expected dark matter signal, so the model that we propose is a canonical example of WIMP not excluded by direct searches that could be studied at neutrino telescopes and also at colliders.

Exploring ultralight scalar assistance in sterile neutrino dark matter: cold spectrum and unusual X/gamma-ray signatures

We present a scalar-driven sterile neutrino production model where the interaction with the ultralight scalar field modifies the oscillation production of sterile neutrinos in the early universe. The model effectively suppresses the production of sterile neutrinos at low temperatures due to the heavy scalar mass, resulting in a colder matter power spectrum that avoids constraints from small-scale structure observations. In this model, the dominant dark matter relic is from sterile neutrinos, with only a small fraction originating from the ultralight scalar. Furthermore, the model predicts a detectable X/γ-ray flux proportional to the cubic density of local sterile neutrinos for a light scalar mass due to the light scalar coupling to sterile neutrinos. This distinguishes our model from normal decaying dark matter, which has a linear dependence on the density. In addition, the model predicts a potential low-energy monochromatic neutrino signal that can be detectable by future neutrino telescopes.

Asymmetries in extended dark sectors: a cogenesis scenario

The observed dark matter relic abundance may be explained by different mechanisms, such as thermal freeze-out/freeze-in, with one or more symmetric/asymmetric components. In this work we investigate the role played by asymmetries in determining the yield and nature of dark matter in non-minimal scenarios with more than one dark matter particle. In particular, we show that the energy density of a particle may come from an asymmetry, even if the particle is asymptotically symmetric by nature. To illustrate the different effects of asymmetries, we adopt a model with two dark matter components. We embed it in a multi-component cogenesis scenario that is also able to reproduce neutrino masses and the baryon asymmetry. In some cases, the model predicts an interesting monochromatic neutrino line that may be searched for at neutrino telescopes.

Reheating and dark matter production

AbstractA concise summary of out‐of‐equilibrium dark matter production during post‐inflationary reheating is presented. We show that the dark matter relic abundance is in general sensitive to the thermalization rate of the inflaton decay products, and the evolution of the temperature of the subsequently thermalized radiation. We discuss how smoking‐gun signals, such as monochromatic neutrinos or gamma‐ray lines, or Lyman‐α data, can help constrain out‐of‐equilibrium DM models.

Case for decaying spin- 3/2 dark matter

We couple a sterile neutrino sector to a spin-3/2 particle and show that with a Planck reduced coupling, we can obtain a sufficiently long lifetime making the spin-3/2 particle a good dark matter candidate. We show that this dark matter candidate can be produced during inflationary reheating through the scattering of Standard Model particles. The relic abundance as determined by Planck and other experimental measurements is attained for reasonable values of the reheating temperature $T_{\rm RH} \gtrsim 10^{8}$ GeV. We consider two possible gauge invariant couplings to the extended Standard Model. We find a large range of masses are possible which respect the experimental limits on its decay rate. We expect smoking-gun signals in the form of a monochromatic photon with a possible monochromatic neutrino, which can be probed in the near future in IceCube and other indirect detection experiments.

Nonlinear flavor development of a two-dimensional neutrino gas

We present a numerical survey of the nonlinear flavor development of dense neutrino gases. This study is based on the stationary, two-dimensional ($x$ and $z$), two-beam, monochromatic neutrino line model with a periodic boundary condition along the $x$ direction. Similar to a previous work, we find that small-scale flavor structures can develop in a neutrino gas even if the physical conditions are nearly homogeneous along the $x$ axis initially. The power diffusion from the large-scale to small-scale structures increases with the neutrino density and helps to establish a semi-exponential dependence of the magnitudes of the Fourier moments on the corresponding wave numbers. The overall flavor conversion probabilities in the neutrino gases with small initial sinusoidal perturbations reach certain equilibrium values at large distances which are mainly determined by the neutrino-antineutrino asymmetry. Similar phenomena also exist in a neutrino gas with a localized initial perturbation, albeit only inside an expanding flavor conversion region. Our work suggests that a statistical treatment may be possible for the collective flavor oscillations of a dense neutrino gas in a multi-dimensional environment.

Monochromatic dark neutrinos and boosted dark matter in noble liquid direct detection

If dark matter self-annihilates into neutrinos or a second component of ("boosted") dark matter that is nucleophilic, the annihilation products may be detected with high rates via coherent nuclear scattering. A future multi-ten-tonne liquid xenon detector such as DARWIN, and a multi-hundred-tonne liquid argon detector, ARGO, would be sensitive to the flux of these particles in complementary ranges of $10-1000$ MeV dark matter masses. We derive these sensitivities after accounting for atmospheric and diffuse supernova neutrino backgrounds, and realistic nuclear recoil acceptances. We find that their constraints on the dark neutrino flux may surpass neutrino detectors such as Super-Kamiokande, and that they would extensively probe parametric regions that explain the missing satellites problem in neutrino portal models. The XENON1T and Borexino experiments currently restrict the effective baryonic coupling of thermal boosted dark matter to $\lesssim 10-100 \ \times$ the weak interaction, but DARWIN and ARGO would probe down to couplings 10 times smaller. Detection of boosted dark matter with baryonic couplings $\sim 10^{-3}-10^{-2} \ \times$ the weak coupling could indicate that the dark matter density profile in the centers of galactic halos become cored, rather than cuspy, through annihilations. This work demonstrates that, alongside liquid xenon, liquid argon direct detection technology would emerge a major player in dark matter searches within and beyond the WIMP paradigm.

A portalino to the dark sector

“Portal” models that connect the Standard Model to a Dark Sector allow for a wide variety of scenarios beyond the simplest WIMP models. Kinetic mixing of gauge fields in particular has allowed a broad range of new ideas. However, the models that evade CMB constraints are often non-generic, with new mass scales and operators to split states and suppress indirect detection signals. Models with a “portalino”, a neutral fermion that marries a linear combination of a standard model neutrino and dark sector fermion and carries a conserved quantum number, can be simpler. This is especially interesting for interacting dark sectors; then the unmarried linear combination which we identify as the standard model neutrino inherits these interactions too, and provides a new, effective interaction between the dark sector and the standard model. These interactions can be simple Z′ type interactions or lepton-flavor changing. Dark matter freezes out into neutrinos, thereby evading CMB constraints, and conventional direct detection signals are largely absent. The model offers different signals, however. The “portalino” mechanism itself predicts small corrections to the standard model neutrino couplings as well as the possibility of discovering the portalino particle in collider experiments. Possible cosmological and astroparticle signatures include monochromatic neutrino signals from annihilation, spectral features in high energy CR neutrinos as well as conventional signals of additional light species and dark matter interactions.

Neutrino mass from bremsstrahlung endpoint in coherent scattering on nuclei

We calculate the coherent bremsstrahlung process $\nu+{\cal N} \to {\cal N}+\nu+\gamma$ off a nucleus ${\cal N}$ with the aim of revealing the neutrino mass via the photon endpoint spectrum. Unfortunately, the large required power of a monochromatic neutrino source and/or large detector mass make it difficult to compete with traditional electron-spectrum endpoint measurements in nuclear $\beta$ decay. Our neutral-current process distinguishes between Dirac and Majorana neutrinos, but the change of the photon spectrum is of the order of $m_\nu/E_\nu$ and thus very small, despite the final-state neutrino coming to rest at the photon endpoint. So the "Dirac-Majorana confusion theorem" remains intact even if $E_\nu\gg m_\nu$ applies only for the initial state.

A global analysis searching for neutrinos associated with black hole merger gravitational wave events

Several neutrino observatories have searched for coincident neutrino signals associated with gravitational waves induced by the merging of two black holes. No statistically significant neutrino signal in excess of the background level was observed. These experiments use different neutrino detection technologies and are sensitive to various neutrino types. A combined analysis was performed on the KamLAND, Super-Kamiokande and Borexino experimental data with a frequentist statistical approach to achieve a global picture of the associated neutrino fluence. Both monochromatic and Fermi-Dirac neutrino spectra were assumed in the calculation. The final results are consistent with null neutrino signals associated with the process of a binary black hole merger. The derived 90% confidence level upper limits on the fluence and luminosity of various neutrino types are presented for neutrino energy less than 110MeV.

Gravitino decay in high scale supersymmetry with R -parity violation

We consider the effects of R-parity violation due to the inclusion of a bilinear $\mu^\prime L H_u$ superpotential term in high scale supersymmetric models with an EeV scale gravitino as dark matter. Although the typical phenomenological limits on this coupling (e.g. due to lepton number violation and the preservation of the baryon asymmetry) are relaxed when the supersymmetric mass spectrum is assumed to be heavy (in excess of the inflationary scale of $3 \times 10^{13}$ GeV), the requirement that the gravitino be sufficiently long-lived so as to account for the observed dark matter density, leads to a relatively strong bound on $\mu^\prime \lesssim 20$ GeV. The dominant decay channels for the longitudinal component of the gravitino are $Z \nu, W^\pm l^\mp$, and $h\nu$. To avoid an excess neutrino signal in IceCube, our limit on $\mu'$ is then strengthened to $\mu' \lesssim 50$ keV. When the bound is saturated, we find that there is a potentially detectable flux of mono-chromatic neutrinos with EeV energies.

Partially monochromatic modulated neutrino beams

Recently, it was proposed to use storage rings with β+-radioactive nuclei as the sources of electron neutrino beams. If the nuclei have large electron capture branching, than such beams can have a significant monochromatic component. Under certain conditions, in particular, for hydrogen-like ions, one can modulate the monochromatic component. The selection criteria for β+-decaying nuclei, which can be used to produce intense beams of partially monochromatic and modulated electron neutrinos are proposed. It is shown that, in practice, such beams can be obtained, and they are promising for future experiments.

Multicomponent Dark Matter in Radiative Seesaw Models

We discuss radiative seesaw models, in which an exact $Z_2\times Z_2'$ symmetry is imposed. Due to the exact $Z_2\times Z_2'$ symmetry, neutrino masses are generated at a two-loop level and at least two extra stable electrically neutral particles are predicted. We consider two models: one has a multi-component dark matter system and the other one has a dark radiation in addition to a dark matter. In the multi-component dark matter system, non-standard dark matter annihilation processes exist. We find that they play important roles in determining the relic abundance and also responsible for the monochromatic neutrino lines resulting from the dark matter annihilation process. In the model with the dark radiation, the structure of the Yukawa coupling is considerably constrained and gives an interesting relationship among cosmology, lepton flavor violating decay of the charged leptons and the decay of the inert Higgs bosons.

Prospects for discovering a neutrino line induced by dark matter annihilation

In the near future, neutrino telescopes are expected to improve their sensitivity to the flux of monochromatic neutrinos produced by dark matter (DM) in our galaxy. This is illustrated by a new limit on the corresponding cross section that we derive from public IceCube data. In this context, we study which DM models could produce an observable flux of monochromatic neutrinos from DM annihilations. To this end, we proceed in two steps. First, within a set of simple and minimal assumptions concerning the properties of the DM particle, we determine the models that could give rise to a significant annihilation into monochromatic neutrinos at the freeze-out epoch. The list of models turns out to be very limited as a result of various constraints, in particular direct detection and neutrino masses at loop level. Given the fact that, even if largely improved, the sensitivities will be far from reaching the thermal annihilation cross section soon, a signal could only be observed if the annihilation into neutrinos today is boosted with respect to the freeze-out epoch. This is why, in a second step, we analyze the possibility of having such a large enhancement from the Sommerfeld effect. For each scenario, we also compute the cross sections into other annihilation products and confront our results with experimental constraints. We find that, within our simple and minimal assumptions, the expectation to observe monochromatic neutrinos is only possible in very specific scenarios. Some will be confirmed or excluded in the near future because they predict signals slightly below the current experimental sensitivities. We also discuss how these prospects change by relaxing our assumptions as well as by considering other types of sharp spectral features. For the latter, we consider boxed-shaped and bremsstrahlung spectra and provide the corresponding limits from IceCube data.

Neutrino lines from majoron dark matter

Models with spontaneously broken global lepton number can lead to a pseudo-Goldstone boson as a long-lived dark matter candidate. Here we revisit the case of singlet majoron dark matter and discuss multiple constraints. For masses above MeV, this model could lead to a detectable flux of monochromatic mass-eigenstate neutrinos, which have flavor ratios that depend strongly on the neutrino mass hierarchy. We provide a convenient parametrization for the loop-induced majoron couplings to charged fermions that allows us to discuss three-generation effects such as lepton flavor violation. These couplings are independent of the low-energy neutrino parameters but can be constrained by the majoron decays into charged fermions.

Gamma-ray limits on neutrino lines

Monochromatic neutrinos from dark matter annihilations (χχ→ νν̄) are always produced in association with a gamma-ray spectrum generated by electroweak bremsstrahlung. Consequently, these neutrino lines can be searched for not only with neutrino detectors but also indirectly with gamma-ray telescopes. Here, we derive limits on the dark matter annihilation cross section into neutrinos based on recent Fermi-LAT and HESS data. We find that, for dark matter masses above 200 GeV, gamma-ray data actually set the most stringent constraints on neutrino lines from dark matter annihilation and, therefore, an upper bound on the dark matter total annihilation cross section. In addition, we point out that gamma-ray telescopes, unlike neutrino detectors, have the potential to distinguish the flavor of the final state neutrino. Our results indicate that we have already entered into a new era where gamma-ray telescopes are more sensitive than neutrino detectors to neutrino lines from dark matter annihilation.

A realistic model for dark matter interactions in the neutrino portal paradigm

We discuss a simple extension of the Standard Model (SM) that provides an explicit realization of the dark-matter (DM) neutrino-portal paradigm. The dark sector is composed of a scalar $ \Phi $ and a Dirac fermion $ \Psi $, with the latter assumed to be lighter than the former. These particles interact with the SM through the exchange of a set of heavy Dirac fermion mediators that are neutral under all local SM symmetries, and also under the dark-sector symmetry that stabilizes the $ \Psi $ against decay. We show that this model can accommodate all experimental and observational constraints provided the DM mass is below $\sim 35\, \gev $ or is in a resonant region of the Higgs or $Z$ boson. We also show that if the dark scalar and dark fermion are almost degenerate in mass, heavier DM fermions are not excluded. We note that in this scenario DM annihilation in the cores of astrophysical objects and the galactic halo produces a monochromatic neutrino beam of energy $ \mfe $, which provides a clear signature for this paradigm. Other experimental signatures are also discussed.

Dark matter decay to a photon and a neutrino: The double monochromatic smoking gun scenario

In the energy range from few TeV to 25 TeV, upper bounds on the dark matter decay rate into high energy monochromatic neutrinos have recently become comparable to those on monochromatic gamma-ray lines. This implies clear possibilities of a future double "smoking-gun" evidence for the dark matter particle, from the observation of both a gamma and a neutrino line at the same energy. In particular, we show that a scenario where both lines are induced from the same dark matter particle decay leads to correlations that can already be tested. We study this "double monochromatic" scenario by considering the complete list of lowest dimensional effective operators that could induce such a decay. Furthermore, we argue that, on top of lines from decays into two-body final states, three-body final states can also be highly relevant. In addition to producing a distinct hard photon spectrum, three-body final states also produce a line-like feature in the neutrino spectrum that can be searched for by neutrino telescopes.

Electromagnetic modulation of monochromatic neutrino beams

We discuss the possibility to produce a modulated monochromatic neutrino beam. Monochromatic neutrinos can be obtained in electron capture by nuclei of atoms or ions. Hydrogen-like ions are of particular interest. It is shown that monochromatic neutrino beam from such hydrogen-like ions with nuclei of non-zero spin can be modulated because of different probabilities of electron capture from hyperfine states. Modulation arises by means of inducing of electromagnetic transitions between the hyperfine states. Requirements for the hydrogen-like ions with necessary properties are discussed. A list of the appropriate nuclei for such ions is presented.

New search for monochromatic neutrinos from dark matter decay

From data recently reported from the IceCube telescope, we derive new bounds on the monochromatic neutrino signal produced from dark matter particle decays. In the few TeV to tens of TeV energy range, these bounds turn out to be better than previous limits by more than an order of magnitude. As a result, intensity constraints on neutrino lines at energies above a few TeV are now comparable to those on gamma-ray lines. From the same data sample, we also perform a detailed search for a neutrino line, showing that there is no significant hint for such a signal.