Solar Reflected Dark Matter under the Influence of Dark Magnetic Field

TL;DR

This paper investigates how dark magnetic fields generated by photon-dark photon mixing in the Sun can influence the reflection and detection of dark matter particles, highlighting the importance of magnetic effects in solar dark matter searches.

Contribution

It introduces the concept that dark magnetic fields can significantly alter the flux of solar-reflected dark matter, impacting detection strategies and sensitivity estimates.

Findings

Dark magnetic fields can deflect dark matter particles in the Sun.

Strong dark magnetic forces can suppress the reflected dark matter flux.

Implications for ground-based dark matter detection sensitivity.

Abstract

The scattering of dark matter particles within the Sun's hot plasma can lead to acceleration of dark matter, producing a high-energy solar-reflected DM flux detectable in ground-based experiments. In the vector portal model, interactions between dark matter and Standard Model particles are mediated by a hidden vector field--referred to as ``dark photon"--which kinetically mixes with the conventional photon through a small mixing angle. Furthermore, the solar plasma generates intense magnetic fields. Due to the photon-dark photon mixing, this simultaneously sources a ``dark magnetic field". For sufficiently low dark photon masses, this dark magnetic field is capable of deflecting dark matter particles traversing the Sun. We found that if the dark magnetic force is sufficiently strong, the dark magnetic field becomes a wall, preventing the dark matter particles from reaching the deep core region, suppressing their reflected flux. This scenario correct the sensitivity of solar-reflected dark matter detection, offering critical insights for ground-based experiments aiming to probe dark matter.