Exploring an enhanced science case for DarkSide-LowMass and SOLAIRE experiments

Abstract

This study provides an overview of the sensitivity of proposed DarkSide liquid argon time projection chamber detectors (LAr TPCs) to the coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CEvNS) signal from solar neutrinos produced in both the Standard Model (SM) and in frameworks Beyond the Standard Model (BSM). While designed to search for dark matter candidates, principally, they can also be used as detectors for the solar CEvNS signal, utilising them as multi-purpose detectors. The solar CEvNS signal has only been experimentally constrained with two upper limits in the past four years. Despite this, understanding this source of neutrinos is crucial as next-generation WIMP search experiments for candidates with masses below 10 GeV in noble liquid TPCs will be ultimately limited by the solar neutrino signal. In addition, deviations in the solar CEvNS from the SM could indicate massive hidden photons or other BSM. Using the design outlined in the DarkSide-LowMass detector white paper, this thesis explores the future realisation of a similar detector in a dedicated facility, SOLAIRE. The design considerations of SOLAIRE will impact its potential sensitivity to anomalous CEvNS (Coherent Elastic Neutrino-Nucleus Scattering) signals and EvES (Elastic Neutrino-Electron Scattering) to create a competitive detector in this sector, rivalling current world-leading projections from DARWIN. In an ideal scenario, SOLAIRE will be sensitive to alterations in the SM caused by a hidden photon with a coupling above 2 x 10^(-4) and masses below 0.4 GeV, showing an improvement upon DARWIN's sensitivity in this BSM space by accessing couplings lower than a third of DARWIN's lowest coupling sensitivity and masses ~0.1 GeV larger than DARWIN's upper mass limit.

Date of Award	1 Jan 1824
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	The University of Manchester
Supervisor	Stefan Söldner-Rembold (Supervisor) & Darren Price (Supervisor)