Impact of form factor uncertainties on interpretations of coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering data
Abstract The standard model coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CEνNS) cross section is subject to nuclear form factor uncertainties, mainly driven by the root-mean-square radius of the neutron density distribution. Motivated by COHERENT phases I-III and future multi-ton direct detection d...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SpringerOpen
2019-06-01
|
| Series: | Journal of High Energy Physics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/JHEP06(2019)141 |
| _version_ | 1818420458134962176 |
|---|---|
| author | D. Aristizabal Sierra Jiajun Liao D. Marfatia |
| author_facet | D. Aristizabal Sierra Jiajun Liao D. Marfatia |
| author_sort | D. Aristizabal Sierra |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The standard model coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CEνNS) cross section is subject to nuclear form factor uncertainties, mainly driven by the root-mean-square radius of the neutron density distribution. Motivated by COHERENT phases I-III and future multi-ton direct detection dark matter searches, we evaluate these uncertainties in cesium iodide, germanium, xenon and argon detectors. We find that the uncertainties become relevant for momentum transfers q ≳ 20 MeV and are essentially independent of the form factor parameterization. Consequently, form factor uncertainties are not important for CEνNS induced by reactor or solar neutrinos. Taking into account these uncertainties, we then evaluate their impact on measurements of CEνNS at COHERENT, the diffuse supernova background (DSNB) neutrinos and sub-GeV atmospheric neutrinos. We also calculate the relative uncertainties in the number of COHERENT events for different nuclei as a function of recoil energy. For DSNB and atmospheric neutrinos, event rates at a liquid argon detector can be uncertain to more than 5%. Finally, we consider the impact of form factor uncertainties on searches for nonstandard neutrino interactions, sterile neutrinos and neutrino generalized interactions. We point out that studies of new physics using CEνNS data are affected by neutron form factor uncertainties, which if not properly taken into account may lead to the misidentification of new physics signals. The uncertainties quantified here are also relevant for dark matter direct detection searches. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T12:54:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0c430c8d544b43c0a8b78b6e6d3d7a28 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1029-8479 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T12:54:47Z |
| publishDate | 2019-06-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of High Energy Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-0c430c8d544b43c0a8b78b6e6d3d7a282022-12-21T23:00:36ZengSpringerOpenJournal of High Energy Physics1029-84792019-06-012019612310.1007/JHEP06(2019)141Impact of form factor uncertainties on interpretations of coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering dataD. Aristizabal Sierra0Jiajun Liao1D. Marfatia2Departamento de Física, Universidad Técnica Federico Santa MaríaSchool of Physics, Sun Yat-Sen UniversityDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, University of Hawaii at ManoaAbstract The standard model coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CEνNS) cross section is subject to nuclear form factor uncertainties, mainly driven by the root-mean-square radius of the neutron density distribution. Motivated by COHERENT phases I-III and future multi-ton direct detection dark matter searches, we evaluate these uncertainties in cesium iodide, germanium, xenon and argon detectors. We find that the uncertainties become relevant for momentum transfers q ≳ 20 MeV and are essentially independent of the form factor parameterization. Consequently, form factor uncertainties are not important for CEνNS induced by reactor or solar neutrinos. Taking into account these uncertainties, we then evaluate their impact on measurements of CEνNS at COHERENT, the diffuse supernova background (DSNB) neutrinos and sub-GeV atmospheric neutrinos. We also calculate the relative uncertainties in the number of COHERENT events for different nuclei as a function of recoil energy. For DSNB and atmospheric neutrinos, event rates at a liquid argon detector can be uncertain to more than 5%. Finally, we consider the impact of form factor uncertainties on searches for nonstandard neutrino interactions, sterile neutrinos and neutrino generalized interactions. We point out that studies of new physics using CEνNS data are affected by neutron form factor uncertainties, which if not properly taken into account may lead to the misidentification of new physics signals. The uncertainties quantified here are also relevant for dark matter direct detection searches.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/JHEP06(2019)141Beyond Standard ModelNeutrino PhysicsSolar and Atmospheric Neutrinos |
| spellingShingle | D. Aristizabal Sierra Jiajun Liao D. Marfatia Impact of form factor uncertainties on interpretations of coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering data Journal of High Energy Physics Beyond Standard Model Neutrino Physics Solar and Atmospheric Neutrinos |
| title | Impact of form factor uncertainties on interpretations of coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering data |
| title_full | Impact of form factor uncertainties on interpretations of coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering data |
| title_fullStr | Impact of form factor uncertainties on interpretations of coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering data |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of form factor uncertainties on interpretations of coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering data |
| title_short | Impact of form factor uncertainties on interpretations of coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering data |
| title_sort | impact of form factor uncertainties on interpretations of coherent elastic neutrino nucleus scattering data |
| topic | Beyond Standard Model Neutrino Physics Solar and Atmospheric Neutrinos |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/JHEP06(2019)141 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT daristizabalsierra impactofformfactoruncertaintiesoninterpretationsofcoherentelasticneutrinonucleusscatteringdata AT jiajunliao impactofformfactoruncertaintiesoninterpretationsofcoherentelasticneutrinonucleusscatteringdata AT dmarfatia impactofformfactoruncertaintiesoninterpretationsofcoherentelasticneutrinonucleusscatteringdata |