Light vector mediators at direct detection experiments
Valentina De Romeri, Dimitrios K. Papoulias, Christoph A. Ternes
Abstract
A bstract Solar neutrinos induce elastic neutrino-electron scattering in dark matter direct detection experiments, resulting in detectable event rates at current facilities. We analyze recent data from the XENONnT, LUX-ZEPLIN, and PandaX-4T experiments and we derive stringent constraints on several U(1) ′ extensions of the Standard Model, accommodating new neutrino-electron interactions. We provide bounds on the relevant coupling and mass of light vector mediators for a variety of models, including the anomaly-free B − L model, lepton flavor-dependent interactions like L α – L β , B – 2 L e – L μ , τ , B – 3 L α , and B + 2 L μ + 2 L τ models. We compare our results with other limits obtained in the literature from both terrestrial and astrophysical experiments. Finally, we present forecasts for improving current bounds with a future experiment like DARWIN.