Hidden-sector photon and axion searches using photonic band gap structures

Abstract

Many proposed extensions of the standard model of particle physics predict the existence of weakly interacting sub-eV particles (WISPs) such as hidden-sector photons and axions, which are also of interest as dark matter candidates. In this paper we propose a novel experimental approach in which microwave photonic lattice structures form part of a 'light shining through the wall'-type experiment to search for WISPs. We demonstrate the potential to match and exceed the sensitivities of conventional experiments operating in the microwave regime. © 2014 IOP Publishing Ltd.