Searches for electron interactions induced by new physics in the EDELWEISS-III germanium bolometers

TL;DR

This study uses germanium bolometers to search for new physics phenomena like axions and dark matter, setting new limits on their interactions and exploring future detection prospects.

Contribution

First to set experimental limits on electron interactions induced by new physics using EDELWEISS-III germanium bolometers.

Findings

Lower limit on electron lifetime: > 1.2×10^{24} years.

Constraints on axion-electron coupling: g_{ae}<1.1×10^{-11}.

Limits on axion-like particles and hidden photon dark matter in 0.8-500 keV/c^2 range.

Abstract

We make use of the EDELWEISS-III array of germanium bolometers to search for electron interactions at the keV scale induced by phenomena beyond the Standard Model. A 90% C.L. lower limit is set on the electron lifetime decaying to invisibles, $\tau > 1.2\times 10^{24}$ years. We investigate the emission of axions or axionlike particles (ALPs) by the Sun, constraining the coupling parameters $g_{ae}<1.1\times 10^{-11}$ and $g_{ae}\times g_{aN}^{\rm eff} < 3.5\times 10^{-17}$ at 90% C.L. in the massless limit. We also directly search for the absorption of bosonic dark matter particles that would constitute our local galactic halo. Limits are placed on the couplings of ALPs or hidden photon dark matter in the mass range $0.8 - 500$ keV/c$^2$. Prospects for searching for dark matter particles with masses down to 150 eV/c$^2$ using improved detectors are presented.