Dark Matter Signals from Timing Spectra at Neutrino Experiments.

We propose a novel strategy to search for new physics in timing spectra at low-energy neutrino experiments using a pulsed beam, envisioning the situation in which a new particle comes from the decay of its heavier partner with a finite particle width. The timing distribution of events induced by the dark matter (DM) candidate particle scattering at the detector may populate in a relatively narrow range, forming a "resonancelike" shape. Because of this structural feature, the signal may be isolated from the backgrounds, in particular when the backgrounds are uniformly distributed in energy and time. For proof of the principle, we investigate the discovery potential for DM from the decay of a dark photon in the ongoing COHERENT experiment and show the exciting prospects for exploring the associated parameter space with this experiment. We analyze the existing CsI detector data with a timing cut and an energy cut, and we find, for the first time, an excess in the timing distribution that can be explained by such DM. We compare the sensitivity to the kinetic mixing parameter (ε) for current and future COHERENT experiments with the projected limits from LDMX and DUNE.

Dark Matter "Collider" from Inelastic Boosted Dark Matter.

We propose a novel dark matter (DM) detection strategy for models with a nonminimal dark sector. The main ingredients in the underlying DM scenario are a boosted DM particle and a heavier dark sector state. The relativistic DM impinged on target material scatters off inelastically to the heavier state, which subsequently decays into DM along with lighter states including visible (standard model) particles. The expected signal event, therefore, accompanies a visible signature by the secondary cascade process associated with a recoiling of the target particle, differing from the typical neutrino signal not involving the secondary signature. We then discuss various kinematic features followed by DM detection prospects at large-volume neutrino detectors with a model framework where a dark gauge boson is the mediator between the standard model particles and DM.