Probing long-lived particle production in muon decays at the SNS with a highly capable hydrocarbon detector
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is a prolific muon producer, making it an ideal location for studying dark sector particles produced in muon decays at rest. In this paper, we explore sub-GeV dark particle detection possibilities in a tons-scale, highly capable hydrocarbon scintillator ($HC^2$) detector at the SNS. We consider a search for $e^+e^-$ final states produced by decays of long-lived, $O(10-100)$ MeV axion-like particles and heavy neutral leptons. The $HC^2$ technology space, exemplified by the PROSPECT and Mobile Antineutrino Demonstrator detectors, offers strong rejection capabilities for the cosmic ray backgrounds that would normally dominate this search. By benchmarking on-surface cosmic ray signatures with data from PROSPECT at ORNL, we generate robust predictions for a multi-year SNS deployment of a range of $HC^2$ detector implementations. Results indicate the potential for order-of-magnitude improvements in sensitivity to axion-like particles and heavy neutral leptons in the 10-100 MeV mass regime compared to current global limits. We also comment on the neutrino detection possibilities of a $HC^2$ deployment at the SNS.
DOI: 10.1103/xtl2-wj6n
Authors: M. Andriamirado, A. B. Balantekin, C. D. Bass, O. Benevides Rodrigues, E. P. Bernard, N. S. Bowden, C. D. Bryan, R. Carr, T. Classen, A. J. Conant, N. Craft, G. Deichert, A. Erickson, M. D. Fuller, A. Galindo-Uribarri, S. Ghosh, S. Gokhale, C. Grant, S. Hans, A. B. Hansell, T. E. Haugen, K. M. Heeger, A. Irani, J. Koblanski, C. E. Lane, B. R. Littlejohn, A. Lozano Sanchez, F. Machado, J. Maricic, M. P. Mendenhall, A. M. Meyer, R. Milincic, P. E. Mueller, H. P. Mumm, R. Neilson, J. R. Newby, D. Norcini, N. Patel, C. Roca, R. Rosero, D. Venegas-Vargas, J. Wilhelmi, M. Yeh, X. Zhang, M. Hostert, S. Urrea
Language: English
Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funders: U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Energy, Battelle, Yale University, Drexel University, Temple University, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Office of Science, U.S. Navy, High Energy Physics, Laboratory Directed Research and Development, U.S. Naval Academy, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory
Awards: PROSPECT: A PRECISION REACTOR OSCILLATION AND SPECTRUM EXPERIMENT, G1190301807, G121915436, G1285306620, G14554683, G1645119126, G166562317, G1686049007, G180393771, G203625172, G2145270357, G2174140550, G2245482968, G2466138296, G2484515606, G2517557991, G266766571, G2706890024, G2757267231, G2854824941, G2988778103, EXPERIMENTAL AND THEORETICAL PARTICLE PHYSICS AT ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, G3538198890, G357145406, G3669113783, G3915068459, G3946874867, G4017386982, G4354484304, G4416110769, G4423657506, HIGH ENERGY PHYSICS, G4609237636, G4731693698, G4744444288, G4920325777, G513999249, G5726405315, G574648691, G574795485, G5765906131, G5869080520, G5929365414, G6086734019, NEUTRINO AND DARK MATTER RESEARCH AT DREXEL, G6620320762, G675320460, NEUTRINO AND DARK MATTER RESEARCH AT DREXEL, G7463374569, G7587271361, EXPERIMENTAL AND THEORETICAL PARTICLE PHYSICS AT ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, G7922397831, G8179423158, G8269158468, G8316827271, G834413596, G8906985441, G985454493, G991281326
OpenAlex ID: W7165111966