Microwave cavity hidden sector photon threshold crossing

Abstract: Hidden sector photons are a weakly interacting slim particle arising from an additional U(1) gauge symmetry predicted by many standard model extensions. We present and demonstrate a new experimental method using a single microwave cavity to search for hidden sector photons. Only photons with a great enough energy are able to oscillate into hidden sector photons of a particular mass. If our cavity is driven on resonance and tuned over the corresponding threshold frequency, there is an observable drop in the circulating power signifying the creation of hidden sector photons. This approach avoids the problems of microwave leakage and frequency matching inherent in photon regeneration techniques.