Searching for Dark Photons with PADME

TL;DR

PADME is an experiment designed to detect dark photons through missing-mass measurements, aiming for high sensitivity in low-mass dark photon detection, with initial commissioning data already collected.

Contribution

This paper presents the design, current status, and future plans of the PADME experiment dedicated to dark photon searches.

Findings

Initial commissioning data collected in 2018/2019

Expected sensitivity of up to 10^{-8} in kinetic mixing coefficient

PADME's design and experimental status described

Abstract

PADME is a fixed-target, missing-mass experiment at the Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati (LNF) to search for evidence of dark photons. It has collected a first set of commissioning data in 2018/2019 which will also be used for preliminary data analysis. PADME is expected to reach a sensitivity of up to $10^{-8}$ in $\epsilon^2$ (kinetic mixing coefficient) for low-mass dark photons ($\sim$ few MeV). Here we describe PADME's design, status of the experiment, and future plans.