How to measure the spin of invisible states in $e^+e^- \to \gamma + X$

Abstract

We examine the production of an invisible state $X$ together with a photon, $e^+e^- \to \gamma +X$, at electron positron colliders and present measurement strategies that can detect the spin of the invisible state as well as the underlying production mechanism, based on the angular distribution of the final state photon, the cross sections for polarized initial states and the photon polarization. Our measurement strategy can be used to identify whether the invisible state is a hidden photon or an axion. The results are compared with a detailed analysis of the Standard Model background and we calculate the sensitivity reach for searches for axions and hidden photons at Belle II.