Ponente
Descripción
The recent observation of coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CE$\nu$NS) from solar $^8$B neutrinos by the XENONnT and PandaX-4T collaborations marks the onset of the neutrino fog in direct dark matter detection experiments. This opens up new possibilities to explore the interplay between CE$\nu$NS and WIMP-nucleus scattering within a common theoretical framework. In this work, we study scenarios where a single new mediator—introduced alongside the Standard Model—simultaneously mediates both CE$\nu$NS and dark matter–nucleus interactions. We consider a set of generalized interactions including scalar, vector, pseudoscalar, and axial-vector mediators, encompassing both spin-independent and spin-dependent couplings. Using recent nuclear recoil data from XENONnT and PandaX-4T, we derive constraints on the zero momentum transfer WIMP-nucleon scattering cross section and the WIMP mass. Additionally, we compute the neutrino fog within the same interaction framework, demonstrating how the dark matter sensitivity approaches this background limit in the mass range of approximately $3$–$10$ GeV, where the neutrino signal becomes indistinguishable from that of light WIMPs. We also highlight that this representation of direct detection constraints on WIMPs—expressed as limits on the zero momentum transfer WIMP-nucleon cross section and WIMP mass—is applicable when a heavy mediator is involved. For scenarios with light mediators, we instead provide limits in the plane of coupling strength versus mediator mass. These results contribute to a more unified and comprehensive interpretation of current and future direct detection data in the presence of neutrino backgrounds.
