Astrophysical aspects of milli-charged dark matter in a Higgs-Stueckelberg model

TL;DR

This paper explores an extended Standard Model with new vector bosons, including a dark photon, analyzing how milli-charged dark matter could influence stellar cooling in astrophysical objects.

Contribution

It introduces a hybrid Higgs-Stueckelberg model with two new vector bosons and studies their astrophysical implications, particularly on stellar cooling processes.

Findings

Dark photon production affects white dwarf cooling rates

Milli-charged dark matter influences neutron star thermal evolution

Astrophysical observations can constrain dark sector parameters

Abstract

An extension of the Standard Model is studied, in which two new vector bosons are introduced, a first boson $Z'$ coupled to the SM by the usual minimal coupling, producing an enlarged gauge sector in the SM. The second boson $A'$ field, in the dark sector of the model, remains massless and originates a dark photon $\gamma'$. A hybrid mixing scenario is considered based on a combined Higgs and Stueckelberg mechanisms. In a Compton-like process a photon scattered by a WIMP is converted into a dark photon. This process is studied, in an astrophysical application obtaining an estimate of the impact on stellar cooling of white dwarfs and neutron stars.