Constraints on millicharged particles from nuclear gamma-decays
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arXiv
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| Format: | Preprint |
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2025
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| _version_ | 1866917080474845184 |
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| author | Gao, Ting Pospelov, Maxim |
| author_facet | Gao, Ting Pospelov, Maxim |
| contents | We consider nuclear gamma decays and $γ$-emitting reactions that can be an efficient source of hypothetical millicharged particles ($χ$). In particular, we revisit the production of millicharged particles in nuclear reactor environment, pointing out that $γ$ cascades from $^{239}$U is an overlooked yet a powerful source of $χ\barχ$ pairs. This leads to an increased flux compared to previous studies. We then apply new estimates of the flux to derive novel limits on the value of millicharge, $\varepsilon = Q_χ/e$, from the electron recoil searched for in a variety of experiments placed in proximity to the reactor cores. The derived limits on $\varepsilon$ are the strongest in the interval of masses $\sim 0.7-2 $\,MeV. We also derive the MCP flux from the Sun and point out potential sensitivity of the low-threshold dark matter search experiments. |
| format | Preprint |
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arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2507_17955 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Constraints on millicharged particles from nuclear gamma-decays Gao, Ting Pospelov, Maxim High Energy Physics - Phenomenology High Energy Physics - Experiment Nuclear Theory We consider nuclear gamma decays and $γ$-emitting reactions that can be an efficient source of hypothetical millicharged particles ($χ$). In particular, we revisit the production of millicharged particles in nuclear reactor environment, pointing out that $γ$ cascades from $^{239}$U is an overlooked yet a powerful source of $χ\barχ$ pairs. This leads to an increased flux compared to previous studies. We then apply new estimates of the flux to derive novel limits on the value of millicharge, $\varepsilon = Q_χ/e$, from the electron recoil searched for in a variety of experiments placed in proximity to the reactor cores. The derived limits on $\varepsilon$ are the strongest in the interval of masses $\sim 0.7-2 $\,MeV. We also derive the MCP flux from the Sun and point out potential sensitivity of the low-threshold dark matter search experiments. |
| title | Constraints on millicharged particles from nuclear gamma-decays |
| topic | High Energy Physics - Phenomenology High Energy Physics - Experiment Nuclear Theory |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.17955 |