Hidden Photons in connection to Dark Matter

TL;DR

This paper reviews experimental limits on hidden photons, explores their potential role in dark matter interactions, and presents models where hidden sector dark matter is consistent with current detection constraints.

Contribution

It provides new experimental limits from KEK and Orsay beam dump experiments and discusses viable hidden sector dark matter models within supersymmetry.

Findings

New limits from KEK and Orsay experiments on hidden photons.

Viable hidden sector dark matter candidates compatible with direct detection.

Supersymmetric models supporting hidden sector dark matter.

Abstract

Light extra U(1) gauge bosons, so called hidden photons, which reside in a hidden sector have attracted much attention since they are a well motivated feature of many scenarios beyond the Standard Model and furthermore could mediate the interaction with hidden sector dark matter. We review limits on hidden photons from past electron beam dump experiments including two new limits from such experiments at KEK and Orsay. In addition, we study the possibility of having dark matter in the hidden sector. A simple toy model and different supersymmetric realisations are shown to provide viable dark matter candidates in the hidden sector that are in agreement with recent direct detection limits.