Probing hidden sectors with Stückelberg U(1) gauge fields

Area of Science:

• Particle Physics
• Cosmology
• String Theory

Background:

• The Standard Model of particle physics describes visible matter but does not account for dark matter or other hidden sectors.
• Existing models for mediating interactions between visible and hidden sectors, such as Z' mediation, often face limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel theoretical framework for interactions between visible matter and a hidden sector.
• To explore the potential for broadening the choices of Z' bosons without introducing exotic matter.
• To investigate the possibility of significant tree-level interactions between the visible and hidden sectors.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a theoretical framework based on mass mixings of Stückelberg U(1) gauge fields.
• Analyzing the phenomenological features of string theory embeddings of the proposed scenario.

Main Results:

• The proposed framework allows for a wider selection of Z' bosons compared to other mediation scenarios.
• The model avoids the introduction of unwanted exotic matter, even with broadened Z' choices.
• Sizable tree-level interactions between the visible and hidden sectors are possible within this framework.

Conclusions:

• The proposed Stückelberg U(1) gauge field framework offers an appealing alternative for mediating interactions between visible and hidden sectors.
• This approach provides greater flexibility in model building and potentially resolves some limitations of existing mediation scenarios.
• Further investigation into string theory embeddings can illuminate the phenomenological consequences of this model.