Neutrino Self-Interactions and XENON1T Electron Recoil Excess

Area of Science:

• Particle Physics
• Astrophysics
• Cosmology

Background:

• The XENON1T experiment observed an excess of electron recoil events between 1-7 keV.
• This anomaly could potentially be explained by known solar neutrino fluxes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate a renormalizable model for light vector-mediated neutrino self-interactions.
• To explore if this model can explain the XENON1T excess and predict new signatures.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical modeling of neutrino self-interactions via a light vector mediator.
• Analysis of the predicted neutrino-electron scattering cross-section energy dependence.
• Identification of potential experimental signatures in particle physics experiments.

Main Results:

• The model naturally accommodates coupling values (g_{νN}χ∼10^{-13}) required to explain the XENON1T excess.
• The predicted neutrino-electron scattering cross-section exhibits a characteristic 1/T^{2} energy dependence.
• The model predicts other signatures such as invisible Higgs and Z decays and leptophilic charged Higgs bosons.

Conclusions:

• The proposed model offers a compelling explanation for the XENON1T electron recoil excess.
• The model's unique predictions, including specific energy dependencies and new particle searches, can distinguish it from other theories.
• Future experiments like ALPS II have the potential to probe the viable parameter space of this model.