Search for dark matter in the form of hidden photons and axion-like particles in the XMASS detector

TL;DR

This study used 800 days of data from the XMASS detector to search for hidden photons and axion-like particles as dark matter candidates, setting the most stringent constraints to date.

Contribution

First direct search for hidden photons and axion-like particles in the 40-120 keV/c^2 mass range using liquid xenon detector data, establishing new upper limits.

Findings

No significant signal detected.

Set upper limits on kinetic mixing parameter and coupling constant.

Limits are the most stringent to date.

Abstract

Hidden photons and axion-like particles are candidates for cold dark matter if they were produced non-thermally in the early universe. We conducted a search for both of these bosons using 800 live-days of data from the XMASS detector with 327 kg of liquid xenon in the fiducial volume. No significant signal was observed, and thus we set constraints on the $\alpha' / \alpha$ parameter related to kinetic mixing of hidden photons and the coupling constant $g_{Ae}$ of axion-like particles in the mass range from 40 to 120 keV/$c^2$, resulting in $\alpha' / \alpha < 6 \times 10^{-26}$ and $g_{Ae} < 4 \times 10^{-13}$. These limits are the most stringent derived from both direct and indirect searches to date.