arXiv subjects

Shao-Feng Ge

Publications and source records attributed to Shao-Feng Ge.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2025

Identifying Neutrino Mass Ordering with Cosmic Gravitational Focusing

The cosmic gravitational focusing (CGF) of relic neutrinos can provide an independent measurement of the absolute neutrino masses $m_i$ with fourth-power dependence ($m^4_i$). We demonstrate in this paper for the first time how this can help identifying the neutrino mass ordering, using the fact that total mass falling below the inverted ordering threshold allows the discrimination of the inverted ordering. Upon incorporating the projected CGF sensitivity at DESI, the preference for the normal ordering with a prior $\sum m_i > 0.059\,{\rm eV}$ would increase from the original 89.9\% of the existing matter clustering method with the DESI analysis to 98.2\% while the inverted ordering is further disfavored from 10.1\% to 1.8\%. We also show how this can affect the prospects of the neutrinoless double beta decay and single beta decay measurements.

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arXiv2025

Dark Matter Annihilation via Breit-Wigner Enhancement with Heavier Mediator

We propose a new scenario that both the dark matter freeze-out in the early Universe and its possible annihilation for indirect detection around a supermassive black hole are enhanced by a Breit-Wigner resonance. With the mediator mass larger than the total initial dark matter mass, this annihilation is almost forbidden at late times. Thus, the stringent cosmic microwave background and indirect detection constraints do not apply. However, a supermassive black hole can accelerate the dark matter particles to reactivate this resonant annihilation whose subsequent decay to photons leaves a unique signal. The running Fermi-LAT and the future COSI satellites can test this scenario.

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arXiv2025

Verifying the Resonance Schemes of Unstable Particles at Lepton Colliders

We propose practical ways of differentiating the various (Breit-Wigner, theoretical, and energy-dependent) resonance schemes of unstable particles at lepton colliders. First, the energy-dependent scheme can be distinguished from the other two by fitting the $Z$ lineshape scan and forward-backward asymmetries at LEP and future lepton colliders with the $Z$ mass $m_Z$, decay width $Γ_Z$, and coupling strength as fitting parameters. Although the Breit-Wigner and theoretical schemes work equally well, the scheme conversion requires the decay width $Γ_Z$ to scale inversely with $m_Z$ rather than the usual linear dependence from theoretical calculation. These contradicting behaviors can be used to distinguish the Breit-Wigner and theoretical schemes by the precision $Z$ measurements with single parameter ($m_Z$) fit at future lepton colliders. For the $WW$ threshold scan, its combination with the precise Fermi constant provides another way of distinguishing the Breit-Wigner and theoretical schemes.

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arXiv2024

Nucleon Consumption and Mass-Energy Conversion Induced by Dark Matter

We propose the nucleon consumption induced by dark matter (DM) as a new scenario to overcome the energy threshold of direct detection. It can be realized with proton ($χ+ p \rightarrow χ+ \ell^+$) or neutron ($χ+ n \rightarrow χ+ ν$) target. Both effective operators and concrete models are provided to illustrate the idea. Since the initial DM and nucleon velocity is only $10^{-3}$ and $1/4$ of the speed of light, respectively, the cross section and hence event rate are determined by the involved particle masses and not affected by the nucleon Fermi motion. Of the two realizations, the proton consumption has richer phenomena with both charged lepton and the daughter nuclei de-excitation to allow double or even triple coincidence to significantly suppress the background. We also illustrate the projected sensitivities at DM and neutrino experiments such as PandaX-4T, DUNE, JUNO, and Hyper-K.

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arXiv2024

Testing the Origins of Neutrino Mass with Supernova Neutrino Time Delay

The origin of neutrino masses remains unknown. Both the vacuum mass and the dark mass generated by the neutrino interaction with dark matter (DM) particles or fields can fit the current oscillation data. The dark mass squared is proportional to the DM number density and therefore varies on the galactic scale with much larger values around the Galactic Center. This affects the group velocity and the arrival time delay of core-collapse supernovae (SN) neutrinos. This time delay, especially for the $ν_e$ neutronization peak with a sharp time structure, can be used to distinguish the vacuum and dark neutrino masses. For illustration, we explore the potential of DUNE which is sensitive to $ν_e$. Our simulations show that DUNE can distinguish the two neutrino mass origins at more than $5σ\,$C.L., depending on the observed local value of neutrino mass, the neutrino mass ordering, the DM density profile, and the SN location.

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arXiv2024

New Physics Off the $Z$-Pole: $e^+ e^- \rightarrow f \bar f$ at Future Lepton Colliders

We explore the prospects for probing new physics (NP) beyond the Standard Model (SM) at future lepton colliders through precision measurements of $e^+e^-\to f{\bar f}$ observables off the $Z$ resonance. We consider interference between SM contributions and those arising from dimension-6, four-fermion effective operators that encode the effects of NP, yielding a linear dependence on the latter. This linear dependence in general increases with magnitude of the collision energy offset from the $Z$ pole. We consider a variety of asymmetries in order to enhance the NP-sensitivity while reducing experimental systematic and theoretical, SM uncertainties: an inclusive above and below $Z$-resonance total cross section asymmetry ($A_σ$) as well as the conventional forward-backward ($A_{\rm FB}$) and polarization ($A_{\rm pol}$) asymmetries. Based on projected statistical uncertainties at the Circular Electron-Positron Collider (CEPC), we find that t measurement of $A_σ$ could extend the sensitivity to the NP mass scale by as much as a factor of $\sim 7$ compared to the present reach obtained with the CERN Large Electron Positron Collider. Inclusion of projected systematic theoretical SM uncertainties substantially reduce this sensitivity gain. For $A_{\rm FB}$, inclusion of experimental systematic uncertainties has a marginal impact on the gain in NP reach, whereas SM theoretical uncertainties remain a significant barrier to realizing the full NP sensitivity. Analogous conclusions apply to the CERN Future Circular Collider (FCC-ee) and International Linear Collider (ILC).

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arXiv2024

Search for Cosmic-ray Boosted Sub-MeV Dark-Matter-Electron Scattering in PandaX-4T

We report the first search for the elastic scatterings between cosmic-ray boosted sub-MeV dark matter and electrons in the PandaX-4T liquid xenon experiment. Sub-MeV dark matter particles can be accelerated by scattering with electrons in the cosmic rays and produce detectable electron recoil signals in the detector. Using the commissioning data from PandaX-4T of 0.63~tonne$\cdot$year exposure, we set new constraints on DM-electron scattering cross sections for DM masses ranging from 10~eV/$c^2$ to 3~keV/$c^2$.

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arXiv2024

Incoherent Fermionic Dark Matter Absorption with Nucleon Fermi Motion

We investigate the incoherent regime of the fermionic dark matter absorption by nuclei using the relativistic Fermi gas model and nuclear form factors. With the momentum transfer being roughly equal to the dark matter mass $m_χ$, the incoherent regime contributes significantly to the absorption process for $m_χ\gtrsim 100$\,MeV with a spin-independent operator and for even smaller mass with a spin-dependent one. We also compare the situations for various target nuclei ($^{131}$Xe, $^{72}$Ge, $^{40}$Ar, $^{20}$Ne and $^4$He) that are typically used in the dark matter direct detection. A heavier nucleus actually has the advantage of probing the incoherent scattering of the fermionic absorption dark matter. Observing both the coherent and incoherent contributions would be an important justification of the fermionic dark matter absorption.

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arXiv2024

Degeneracy Enhancement of Neutron-Antineutron Oscillation in Neutron Star

We explore the fermion oscillation in a degenerate environment. The direct consequence is introducing a Pauli blocking factor $1 - f_i$, where $f_i$ is the phase space distribution function, for each intermediate mass eigenstate during propagation. It is then much easier for a state with larger existing fraction or density to oscillate into other states with less degeneracy while the reversed process is not enhanced. This can significantly modify the oscillation behaviors. We apply this degenerate fermion oscillation to a concrete scenario of neutron-antineutron oscillation in neutron star. It turns out antineutrons receive a standing fraction to annihilate with the environmental neutrons. The subsequent neutron star heating can put an extremely stringent bound on the baryon number violating cross mass term between neutron and antineutron.

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arXiv2024

Neutrino Mass Measurement with Cosmic Gravitational Focusing

We thoroughly explore the cosmic gravitational focusing of cosmic neutrino fluid (C$ν$F) by dark matter (DM) halo using both general relativity for a point source of gravitational potential and Boltzmann equations for continuous overdensities. Derived in the general way for both relativistic and non-relativistic neutrinos, our results show that the effect has fourth power dependence on the neutrino mass and temperature. With nonlinear mass dependence which is different from the cosmic microwave background (CMB) and large scale structure (LSS) observations, the cosmic gravitational focusing can provide an independent cosmological way of measuring the neutrino mass and ordering. We take DESI as an example to illustrate that the projected sensitivity as well as its synergy with existing terrestrial neutrino oscillation experiments and other cosmological observations can significantly improve the neutrino mass measurement.

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arXiv2024

Neutrino CP Measurement in the Presence of RG Running with Mismatched Momentum Transfers

The neutrino mixing parameters are expected to have RG running effect in the presence of new physics. If the momentum transfers at production and detection mismatch with each other, the oscillation probabilities are generally modified and become dependent on not just the neutrino energy but also the momentum transfer. Even in the limit of vanishing baseline, the transition probability for the appearance channel is interestingly not zero. This would significantly affect the sensitivity of the genuine leptonic Dirac CP phase. We further explore the possibility of combing the long- and short-baseline neutrino experiments to constrain such RG running effect for the purpose of guaranteeing the CP measurement. To simulate the double dependence on the neutrino energy and momentum transfer, we extend the usual GLoBES simulation of fixed baseline experiments and use a two-dimensional $χ^2$ analysis to obtain sensitivities.

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arXiv2023

Disentangle Neutrino Electromagnetic Properties with Atomic Radiative Pair Emission

We elaborate the possibility of using the atomic radiative emission of neutrino pair (RENP) to probe the neutrino electromagnetic properties, including magnetic and electric dipole moments, charge radius, and anapole. With the typical O(eV) momentum transfer, the atomic RENP is sensitive to not just the tiny neutrino masses but also very light mediators to which the massless photon belongs. The neutrino EM properties introduce extra contribution besides the SM one induced by the heavy W/Z gauge bosons. Since the associated photon spectrum is divided into several sections whose boundaries are determined by the final-state neutrino masses, it is possible to identify the individual neutrino EM form factor elements. Most importantly, scanning the photon spectrum inside the particular section with deviation from the SM prediction once observed allows identification of the neutrino EM form factor type. The RENP provides an ultimate way of disentangling the neutrino EM properties to go beyond the current experimental searches or observations.

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arXiv2023

Forbidden Dark Matter Combusted Around Supermassive Black Hole

The forbidden dark matter cannot annihilate into a pair of heavier partners, either SM particles or its partners in the dark sector, at the late stage of cosmological evolution by definition. We point out the possibility of reactivating the forbidden annihilation channel around supermassive black holes. Being attracted towards a black hole, the forbidden dark matter is significantly accelerated to overcome the annihilation threshold. The subsequent decay of the annihilation products to photon leaves a unique signal around the black hole, which can serve as a smoking gun for the forbidden dark matter. For illustration, the Fermi-LAT data around Sgr $A^*$ provides a preliminary constraint on the thermally averaged cross section of the reactivated forbidden annihilation that is consistent with the DM relic density requirement.

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arXiv2023

Right-Handed Neutrino Dark Matter with Forbidden Annihilation

The seesaw mechanism with three right-handed neutrinos has one as a well-motivated dark matter candidate if stable and the other two can explain baryon asymmetry via the thermal leptogenesis scenario. We explore the possibility of introducing additional particles to make the right-handed neutrino dark matter in thermal equilibrium and freeze out through a forbidden annihilation channel. Nowadays in the Universe, this forbidden channel can be reactivated by a strong gravitational potential such as the supermassive black hole in our galaxy center. The Fermi-LAT gamma ray data and dark matter relic density require this right-handed neutrino dark matter to have mass below $100\,$GeV and the existence of an additional boson $ϕ$ that can be tested at future lepton colliders.

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arXiv2023

Associated Production of Neutrino and Dark Fermion at Future Lepton Colliders

Fermionic dark matter can be pairly produced and hence searched with missing energy at colliders. We extend such probe to the associated production of a neutrino and a dark sector fermion at the future $e^+ e^-$ colliders such as CEPC, FCC-ee, ILC, and CLIC. Two typical processes, the mono-photon and electron-positron pair productions associated with missing energy, can serve the purpose. While the mono-photon search prevails at CEPC, FCC-ee, and ILC, the $e^+ e^- \met$ channel has more significant contributions at CLIC with much higher collision energy $\sqrt s$. The beam polarizations can help further suppressing the SM backgrounds to enhance the signal significance while differential cross sections can distinguish the Lorentz structure of various effective operators. The combined sensitivity can reach well above $1\tev$ at CEPC/FCC-ee and ILC while it further touches 30\,TeV at CLIC. Comparing with the updated results from the direct detection experiments (XENON1T, PandaX-II, PandaX-4T, LZ, and XENONnT), astrophysical $X/γ$-ray observations, and cosmological constraints for the sub-MeV absorption dark matter, the collider searches are actually more sensitive and hence can provide a complementary approach to addressing the dark fermions.

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arXiv2023

A Search for Light Fermionic Dark Matter Absorption on Electrons in PandaX-4T

We report a search on a sub-MeV fermionic dark matter absorbed by electrons with an outgoing active neutrino using the 0.63 tonne-year exposure collected by PandaX-4T liquid xenon experiment. No significant signals are observed over the expected background. The data are interpreted into limits to the effective couplings between such dark matter and electrons. For axial-vector or vector interactions, our sensitivity is competitive in comparison to existing astrophysical bounds on the decay of such dark matter into photon final states. In particular, we present the first direct detection limits for an axial-vector (vector) interaction which are the strongest in the mass range from 25 to 45 (35 to 50) keV/c$^2$.

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arXiv2023

Unique Probe of Neutrino Electromagnetic Moments with Radiative Pair Emission

The neutrino magnetic and electric moments are zero at tree level but can arise in radiative corrections. Any deviation from the Standard Model prediction would provide another indication of neutrino-related new physics in addition to the neutrino oscillation and masses. Especially, Dirac and Majorana neutrinos have quite different structures in their electromagnetic moments. Nevertheless, the recoil measurements and astrophysical stellar cooling can only constrain combinations of neutrino magnetic and electric moments with the limitation of not seeing their detailed structures. We propose using the atomic radiative emission of neutrino pair to serve as a unique probe of the neutrino electromagnetic moments with the advantage of not just separating the magnetic and electric moments but also identifying their individual elements. Both searching strategy and projected sensitivities are illustrated in this letter.

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arXiv2022

Improving CP Measurement with THEIA and Muon Decay at Rest

We explore the possibility of using the recently proposed THEIA detector to measure the $\bar ν_μ\rightarrow \bar ν_e$ oscillation with neutrinos from a muon decay at rest ($μ$DAR) source to improve the leptonic CP phase measurement. Due to its intrinsic low-energy beam, this $μ$THEIA configuration ($μ$DAR neutrinos at THEIA) is only sensitive to the genuine leptonic CP phase $δ_D$ and not contaminated by the matter effect. With detailed study of neutrino energy reconstruction and backgrounds at the THEIA detector, we find that the combination with the high-energy DUNE can significantly reduce the CP uncertainty, especially around the maximal CP violation cases $δ_D = \pm 90^\circ$. Both the $μ$THEIA-25 with 17kt and $μ$THEIA-100 with 70kt fiducial volumes are considered. For DUNE + $μ$THEIA-100, the CP uncertainty can be better than $8^\circ$.

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