Constraining hidden photons via atomic force microscope measurements and the Plimpton-Lawton experiment

TL;DR

This paper uses atomic force microscope data and Coulomb law tests with metal shells to set laboratory bounds on hidden photons, complementing astrophysical constraints and testing physics beyond the Standard Model.

Contribution

It introduces two laboratory methods to constrain hidden photons, providing direct experimental bounds that complement existing astrophysical limits.

Findings

Set new laboratory bounds on hidden photons.

Confirmed existing astrophysical constraints with direct measurements.

Demonstrated the effectiveness of atomic force microscopy and Coulomb tests for new physics searches.

Abstract

Modifications to electrodynamics from physics beyond the Standard Model can be tested to a high accuracy. Here we use two setups to place bounds on hidden photons, an Abelian boson kinetically mixed with the photon. The first setup involves atomic force microscope measurements, originally designed to study the Casimir effect at sub-$\mu$m distances. The second setup consists of two concentric metal shells with the outer one exposed to a high voltage. By measuring the potential difference between the shells it is possible to test Coulomb's law. The limits obtained here cover regions already excluded, in particular by astrophysical observations, but provide a more direct, laboratory-based confirmation of these bounds.