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arXiv · 0903.3630

Neutrino Coherent Scattering Rates at Direct Dark Matter Detectors

Louis E. Strigari
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Abstract

Neutrino-induced recoil events may constitute a background to direct dark matter searches, particularly for those detectors that strive to reach the ton-scale and beyond. This paper discusses the expected neutrino-induced background spectrum due to several of the most important sources, including solar, atmospheric, and diffuse supernova neutrinos. The largest rate arises from $^8$B produced solar neutrinos, providing upwards of $\sim 10^3$ events per ton-year over all recoil energies for the heaviest nuclear targets. However the majority of these $^8$B events are expected to be below the recoil threshold of modern detectors. The remaining neutrino sources are found to constitute a background to the WIMP-induced recoil rate only if the WIMP-nucleon cross section is less than $10^{-12}$ pb. Finally the sensitivity to diffuse supernova neutrino flux for non-electron neutrino flavors is discussed, and projected flux limits are compared with existing flux limits.

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Louis E. Strigari. 2009-10-21. Neutrino Coherent Scattering Rates at Direct Dark Matter Detectors. https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630%2F11%2F10%2F105011

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