Hidden Photons in beam dump experiments and in connection with Dark Matter

Understand

Hidden sectors with light extra U(1) gauge bosons, so-called hidden photons, recently received much interest as natural feature of beyond standard model scenarios like string theory and SUSY and because of their possible connection to dark matter.

• This paper presents limits on hidden photons from past electron beam dump experiments including two new limits from experiments at KEK and Orsay.
• Additionally, various hidden sector models containing both a hidden photon and a dark matter candidate are discussed with respect to their viability and potential signatures in direct detection.