• Accepted Paper

Probing long-lived particle production in muon decays at the SNS with a highly capable hydrocarbon detector

M. Andriamirado et al.

Phys. Rev. D - Accepted 6 November, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/xtl2-wj6n

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 (HC2) 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 HC2 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 HC2 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 HC2 deployment at the SNS.

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