Probing Minicharged Particles with Tests of Coulomb's Law

TL;DR

This paper explores how tests of Coulomb's law can be used to detect minicharged particles, which are predicted by extensions of the Standard Model, by analyzing their effects on electromagnetic forces.

Contribution

It demonstrates that Coulomb's law tests, especially Cavendish-type experiments, can serve as sensitive probes for minicharged particles in the low mass range.

Findings

Coulomb's law modifications can indicate the presence of minicharged particles.

Existing Cavendish experiments set strong bounds on minicharged particles.

Low mass minicharged particles are constrained by electromagnetic fifth force tests.

Abstract

Minicharged particles arise in many extensions of the Standard Model. Their contribution to the vacuum polarization modifies Coulomb's law via the Uehling potential. In this note we argue that tests for electromagnetic fifth forces can therefore be a sensitive probe of minicharged particles. In the low mass range <~micro-eV existing constraints from Cavendish type experiments provide the best model-independent bounds on minicharged particles.