Search for hidden-photon cold dark matter using a K-band cryogenic receiver

TL;DR

This study conducted a search for hidden-photon cold dark matter using a novel cryogenic K-band receiver, setting the most stringent upper limits on photon-hidden photon mixing in a specific mass range.

Contribution

First use of a cryogenic receiver in HP-CDM search, reducing thermal noise and improving sensitivity in the K-band frequency range.

Findings

No signal detected in 9.3 hours of data

Set upper limits on photon-hidden photon mixing parameter

Achieved most stringent limits to date in the mass range

Abstract

We search for hidden-photon cold dark matter (HP-CDM) using a spectroscopic system in a K-band frequency range. Our system comprises a planar metal plate and cryogenic receiver. This is the first time a cryogenic receiver has been used in the search for HP-CDM. Such use helps reduce thermal noise. We recorded data for 9.3 hours using an effective aperture area of 14.8 cm$^2$. No signal was found in the data. We set upper limits for the parameter of mixing between the photon and HP-CDM in the mass range from 115.79 to 115.85 $\mu$eV, $\chi < 1.8$-$4.3 \times 10^{-10}$, at a 95% confidence level. This is the most stringent upper limit obtained to date in the considered mass range.