SNO data combined with CANDU reactor production excludes spin-dependent χ-nucleon cross sections above ~10^{-33} cm² for m_χ ≤ 1.5 MeV.
Constraints on millicharged particles from nuclear gamma-decays
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abstract
We consider nuclear gamma decays and $\gamma$-emitting reactions that can be an efficient source of hypothetical millicharged particles ($\chi$). In particular, we revisit the production of millicharged particles in nuclear reactor environment, pointing out that $\gamma$ cascades from $^{239}$U is an overlooked yet a powerful source of $\chi\bar\chi$ pairs. This leads to an increased flux compared to previous studies. We then apply new estimates of the flux to derive novel limits on the value of millicharge, $\varepsilon = Q_\chi/e$, from the electron recoil searched for in a variety of experiments placed in proximity to the reactor cores. The derived limits on $\varepsilon$ are the strongest in the interval of masses $\sim 0.7-2$ MeV. We also derive the MCP flux from the Sun and point out potential sensitivity of the low-threshold dark matter search experiments.
fields
hep-ph 2years
2026 2verdicts
UNVERDICTED 2representative citing papers
Nuclear de-excitation in reactors produces on-shell dark photons up to nuclear transition energies, yielding stronger TEXONO limits on ε than Compton-like production for 0.1 MeV < m_A' < 6.9 MeV.
citing papers explorer
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Novel Constraints on Spin-Dependent Light Dark Matter Scattering
SNO data combined with CANDU reactor production excludes spin-dependent χ-nucleon cross sections above ~10^{-33} cm² for m_χ ≤ 1.5 MeV.
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Probing Dark Photons from Nuclear De-excitation in Reactor Neutrino Experiment
Nuclear de-excitation in reactors produces on-shell dark photons up to nuclear transition energies, yielding stronger TEXONO limits on ε than Compton-like production for 0.1 MeV < m_A' < 6.9 MeV.