keV scale ${\nu }_R$ dark matter and its detection in $\beta$ decay experiment

Abstract

We study dark matter(DM) in the model with one keV scale right-handed neutrino ${\nu }_{R1}$ and two GeV scale right-handed neutrinos ${\nu }_{R2,3}$, the $\nu$SM. We find that one of the GeV scale right-handed neutrinos can have much longer lifetime than the other when two GeV scale right-handed neutrinos are degenerate. We show that mass and mixing of light neutrinos can be explained in this case. Significant entropy release can be generated in a reheating produced by the decay of one of the GeV scale ${\nu }_R$. The density of ${\nu }_{R1}$ DM can be diluted by two orders of magnitude and the mixing of ${\nu }_{R1}$ with active neutrinos is allowed to be much larger, reaching the bound from X-ray observation. This mixing can lead to sizeable rate of ${\nu }_{R1}$ capture by radioactive nuclei. The ${\nu }_{R1}$ capture events are mono-energetic electrons with keV scale energy away from the beta decay spectrum. This is a new way to detect DM in the universe.

Comments: 12 pages; references added; version to appear in PRD