Hunting All the Hidden Photons

TL;DR

This paper investigates constraints on various weakly coupled gauge bosons associated with specific U(1) symmetries, translating experimental bounds from hidden photons and including loop effects, astrophysical, and cosmological data to extend current limits.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive translation of hidden photon constraints to multiple U(1) gauge groups, incorporating loop effects and new astrophysical bounds.

Findings

Established new bounds from white dwarf cooling observations.

Extended limits using neutrino, astrophysical, and cosmological data.

Analyzed the potential reach of future experiments for these gauge bosons.

Abstract

We explore constraints on gauge bosons of a weakly coupled $U(1)_{B-L}$, $U(1)_{L_\mu-L_e}$, $U(1)_{L_e-L_\tau}$ and $U(1)_{L_\mu-L_\tau}$. To do so we apply the full constraining power of experimental bounds derived for a hidden photon of a secluded $U(1)_{X}$ and translate them to the considered gauge groups. In contrast to the secluded hidden photon that acquires universal couplings to charged Standard Model particles through kinetic mixing with the photon, for these gauge groups the couplings to the different Standard Model particles can vary widely. We take finite, computable loop-induced kinetic mixing effects into account, which provide additional sensitivity in a range of experiments. In addition, we collect and extend limits from neutrino experiments as well as astrophysical and cosmological observations and include new constraints from white dwarf cooling. We discuss the reach of future experiments in searching for these gauge bosons.