LIPSS Free-Electron Laser Searches for Dark Matter

• Published in: Journal of physics. Conference series Vol. 315; no. 1; pp. 12002 - 6
• Main Authors: Boyce, J R, Afanasev, A, Baker, O K, Beard, K B, Biallas, G, Minarni, M, Ramdon, R, Robinson, T, Shinn, M, Slocum, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bristol IOP Publishing 01.01.2011
• Subjects: Bosons; Boundaries; Coupling; Dark matter; Fermions; Free electron lasers; Joining; Magnetic fields; Particles (of physics); Photon beams; Photons; Physics; Searching; Walls
• ISSN: 1742-6596; 1742-6588; 1742-6596
• DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/315/1/012002

A variety of Dark Matter particle candidates have been hypothesized by physics Beyond the Standard Model (BSM) in the very light (10−6 – 10−3 eV) range. In the past decade several international groups have conducted laboratory experiments designed to either produce such particles or extend the boundaries in parameter space. The LIght Pseudo-scalar and Scalar Search (LIPSS) Collaboration, using the "Light Shining through a Wall" (LSW) technique, pass the high average power photon beam from Jefferson Lab's Free-Electron Laser through a magnetic field upstream from a mirror and optical beam dump. Light Neutral Bosons (LNBs), generated by coupling of photons with the magnetic field, pass through the mirror ("the Wall") into an identical magnetic field where they revert to detectable photons by the same coupling process. While no evidence of LNBs was evident, new scalar coupling boundaries were established. New constraints were also determined for hypothetical para-photons and for millicharged fermions. We describe our experimental setup and results for LNBs, para-photons, and milli-charged fermions. Plans for chameleon particle searches are underway