Paper detail

Searching for a solar relaxion/scalar with XENON1T and LUX

We consider liquid xenon dark matter detectors for searching a light scalar particle produced in the solar core, specifically one that couples to electrons. Through its interaction with the electrons, the scalar particle can be produced in the Sun, mainly through Bremsstrahlung process, and subsequently it is absorbed by liquid xenon atoms, leaving prompt scintillation light and ionization events. Using the latest experimental results of XENON1T and Large Underground Xenon, we place bounds on the coupling between electrons and a light scalar as $g_{ϕee} < 7 \times 10^{-15}$ from S1-only analysis, and as $g_{ϕee} < 2 \times 10^{-15}$ from S2-only analysis. These can be interpreted as bounds on the mixing angle with the Higgs, $\sin θ< 2 \times 10^{-9} \, \left(7 \times 10^{-10}\right)$, for the case of a relaxion that couples to the electrons via this mixing. The bounds are a factor few weaker than the strongest indirect bound inferred from stellar evolution considerations.