Electron events from the scattering with solar neutrinos in the search of keV scale sterile neutrino dark matter

Abstract

In a previous work we showed that keV scale sterile neutrino dark matter $\nu_s$ is possible to be detected in $\beta$ decay experiment using radioactive sources such as $^3$T or $^{106}$Ru. The signals of this dark matter candidate are mono-energetic electrons produced in neutrino capture process $\nu_s + N' \to N +e^-$. These electrons have energy greater than the maximum energy of the electrons produced in the associated decay process $N' \to N +e^- + {\bar \nu}_e$. Hence, signal electron events are well beyond the end point of the $\beta$ decay spectrum and are not polluted by the $\beta$ decay process. Another possible background, which is a potential threat to the detection of $\nu_s$ dark matter, is the electron event produced by the scattering of solar neutrinos with electrons in target matter. In this article we study in detail this possible background and discuss its implication to the detection of keV scale sterile neutrino dark matter. In particular, bound state features of electrons in Ru atom are considered with care in the scattering process when the kinetic energy of the final electron is the same order of magnitude of the binding energy.