Dark matter detectors as dark photon helioscopes.

Area of Science:

• Particle Physics
• Astrophysics
• Cosmology

Background:

• The Standard Model of particle physics may be extended by new light particles.
• These particles, if they exist, are expected to be emitted from the solar interior.
• Detecting these particles can provide insights into physics beyond the Standard Model.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the "dark" vector state V, a massive vector boson mixed with the photon.
• To set limits on the parameters of this model using experimental data.
• To establish dark matter experiments as sensitive dark vector helioscopes.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing constraints on the atomic ionization rate from the XENON10 experiment.
• Analyzing the emission spectrum of the dark vector state V, particularly at low energies.
• Generalizing the approach to other light exotic particles, such as "minicharged" particles.

Main Results:

• Setting a limit on the parameters of the dark vector model: κ×mV<3×10⁻¹² eV.
• Demonstrating that low-threshold dark matter experiments are the most sensitive dark vector helioscopes.
• Improving current experimental bounds by several orders of magnitude and surpassing astrophysical/cosmological limits.

Conclusions:

• The XENON10 experiment provides the most stringent direct constraints on "minicharged" particles.
• Dark matter experiments offer a powerful new avenue for detecting solar-emitted exotic particles.
• This research significantly advances the search for physics beyond the Standard Model.