LHC probes the hidden sector

Understand

In this note we establish LHC limits on a variety of benchmark models for hidden sector physics using 2011 and 2012 data.

• First, we consider a "hidden" U(1) gauge boson under which all Standard Model particles are uncharged at tree-level and which interacts with the visible sector either via kinetic mixing or higher dimensional operators.
• Second, we constrain scalar and pseudo-scalar particles interacting with the Standard Model via dimension five operators and Yukawa interactions, in particular including so-called axion-like particles.
• In both cases we consider several different final states, including photons, electrons, muons and taus, establishing new constraints for a range of GeV to TeV scale masses.