ATHOY NILIMA
Career Stage
Student (postgraduate)
Poster Abstract
Motivated by possible theoretical extensions to the standard model, hidden photons (HP) are a candidate for the cold dark matter. Their possible masses cover a broad range, from 10^-12 to 10^6 eV/c2. Large scale direct detection experiments such as LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ), built primarily to detect Weakly Interactive Massive Particles (WIMPs), are also sensitive to HP dark matter via the so-called hidden photoelectric effect. This work presents the projected sensitivity of LZ to hidden photons with masses in the range of 2-70 keV/c^2. Sensitivity Projections for Axion Like Particles (ALPs) are also discussed.
Plain text summary
Cosmological evidence strongly suggests that the ordinary matter (i.e., neutrons,
protons etc.) of the visible world contributes only about 5% of the total mass of
the Universe. The rest of the universe consists of mysterious ′invisible′ substances
called dark matter (26.5%) and dark energy (68.5%). The properties of dark matter, as revealed by several types of cosmological evidence, are inconsistent with the Standard Model of particle physics and imply a new physics beyond.
A wide range of new particles often appear in BSM theories, and many of them fit well within the dark matter paradigm. Direct detection experiments like the LUX−ZEPLIN (LZ) project aims to detect prospective dark matter particles, mainly the weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), by their interactions with liquid xenon nuclei. Apart from WIMPs, several other dark matter candidates, such as hidden photons (HPs) and axion-like particles (ALPs) can also be probed via their interactions with atomic electrons in the detecting medium. This work presents the projected sensitivity of LZ to hidden photons with masses in the range of 2-70 keV/c^2. Sensitivity Projections for Axion Like Particles (ALPs) are also discussed.
protons etc.) of the visible world contributes only about 5% of the total mass of
the Universe. The rest of the universe consists of mysterious ′invisible′ substances
called dark matter (26.5%) and dark energy (68.5%). The properties of dark matter, as revealed by several types of cosmological evidence, are inconsistent with the Standard Model of particle physics and imply a new physics beyond.
A wide range of new particles often appear in BSM theories, and many of them fit well within the dark matter paradigm. Direct detection experiments like the LUX−ZEPLIN (LZ) project aims to detect prospective dark matter particles, mainly the weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), by their interactions with liquid xenon nuclei. Apart from WIMPs, several other dark matter candidates, such as hidden photons (HPs) and axion-like particles (ALPs) can also be probed via their interactions with atomic electrons in the detecting medium. This work presents the projected sensitivity of LZ to hidden photons with masses in the range of 2-70 keV/c^2. Sensitivity Projections for Axion Like Particles (ALPs) are also discussed.
Poster file
Poster Title
Broadening the search for Dark Matter with LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) Experiment: Hidden Photons and Axion-Like Particles
Url
athoynilima@gmail.com