Supernova-Boosted Dark Matter at Large-Volume Neutrino Detectors

Abstract

Core-collapse supernovae, among the universe's most energetic events, offer a novel window into the dark sector by potentially producing a flux of boosted dark matter (BDM). We explore the potential to detect the BDM produced by supernovae with a focus on fermionic dark matter that interacts with the visible sector through a dark gauge boson. We consider the expected BDM flux at Earth, originating from both the diffuse background of all galactic supernovae and potentially strong signals from individual nearby events. Focusing on BDM-electron scattering, we project the sensitivity of major current and future large-volume neutrino detectors - DUNE, Hyper-Kamiokande, and JUNO - to this elusive signal. Our results indicate that these experiments can significantly constrain or discover BDM within compelling parameter spaces, with sensitivity notably enhanced during nearby supernova occurrences. We further emphasize the unique multi-messenger opportunity presented by a galactic supernova, where the characteristic time delay between the neutrino burst and the BDM signal arrival could provide powerful evidence and enable probes of dark matter properties.