Dark matter and Higgs boson physics

A vector-like colorless fermion doublet and a singlet added to the Standard Model allow a consistent interpretation of dark matter in terms of the lightest neutral particle, as they may help in obtaining successful gauge coupling unification. We analyze in detail the mass range of the lightest neutral particle below the W mass, i.e. in a range of the parameters where the physics of the Standard Model Higgs boson may be substantially affected either directly or indirectly.Comment: 17 pages, 7 figures. v3: published version (small corrections

Guidelines for axion identification in astrophysical observations

The origin of various celestial phenomena have remained mysterious for conventional astrophysics. Therefore, alternative solutions should be considered, taking into account the involvement of unstable dark-matter particle candidates, such as the celebrated axions or other as yet unforeseen axion-like particles. Their spontaneous and induced decay by the ubiquitous solar magnetic fields can be at the origin of persisting enigmatic X-ray emission, giving rise to a steady and a transient/local solar activity, respectively. The (coherent) conversion of photons into axion(-like) particles in intrinsic magnetic fields may modify the solar axion spectrum. The reversed process can be behind transient (solar) luminosity deficits in the visible. Then, the Sun might be also a strong source of ~eV-axions. Thus, enigmatic observations might be the as yet missing direct signature for axion(-like) particles in earth-bound detectors.Comment: 6 pages, to be submitted to JCA

Muon G-2 and Electric Dipole Moments in Storage Rings: Powerful Probes of Physics Beyond the Standard Model.

We have shown that the study of dipole moments, both magnetic and electric, in storage rings offer unique opportunities in probing physics beyond the Standard Model (SM). Both methods use similar techniques (particle and spin precession in magnetic storage rings). We are currently investigating the systematic errors associated with the resonance electric dipole moment (EDM) method. So far it looks very promising

First axion dark matter search with toroidal geometry

We firstly report an axion haloscope search with toroidal geometry. In this pioneering search, we exclude the axion-photon coupling $g_{a\gamma\gamma}$ down to about $5\times10^{-8}$ GeV$^{-1}$ over the axion mass range from 24.7 to 29.1 $\mu$eV at a 95\% confidence level. The prospects for axion dark matter searches with larger scale toroidal geometry are also considered.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, 1 table and to appear in PRD-R

KWISP: an ultra-sensitive force sensor for the Dark Energy sector

An ultra-sensitive opto-mechanical force sensor has been built and tested in the optics laboratory at INFN Trieste. Its application to experiments in the Dark Energy sector, such as those for Chameleon-type WISPs, is particularly attractive, as it enables a search for their direct coupling to matter. We present here the main characteristics and the absolute force calibration of the KWISP (Kinetic WISP detection) sensor. It is based on a thin Si3N4 micro-membrane placed inside a Fabry-Perot optical cavity. By monitoring the cavity characteristic frequencies it is possible to detect the tiny membrane displacements caused by an applied force. Far from the mechanical resonant frequency of the membrane, the measured force sensitivity is 5.0e-14 N/sqrt(Hz), corresponding to a displacement sensitivity of 2.5e-15 m/sqrt(Hz), while near resonance the sensitivity is 1.5e-14 N/sqrt(Hz), reaching the estimated thermal limit, or, in terms of displacement, 7.5e-16 N/sqrt(Hz). These displacement sensitivities are comparable to those that can be achieved by large interferometric gravitational wave detectors.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures in colo