Dark Photon - ALP Freeze-in: 511 keV and H$α$ Constraints

Abstract

We investigate a freeze-in scenario of two component dark matter consisting of an axion-like particle (ALP) and a dark photon. The dark sector connects to the Standard Model through a dimension-five ALP-dark photon interaction, while a small kinetic mixing governs dark photon decays. Solving the coupled Boltzmann equations, we determine the parameter space consistent with the observed relic abundance. We find that, for a nearly degenerate dark sector, dark photon decay into an electron-positron pair through the kinetic mixing explains the Galactic 511 keV line while the dimension five operator can source the necessary production of dark photon and ALP particles to satisfy the relic density. We further confront the model with recent H$α$ observations of dwarf galaxies, together with constraints from the cosmic microwave background, diffuse gamma rays, direct detection and collider searches. We identify viable regions of parameter space yielding $Ω_{\rm DM}h^2\simeq0.12$, with an effective scale $Λ\sim10^{10}$-$10^{12}$ GeV, and dark photon lifetimes of order $10^{26}$-$10^{29}$ s, while remaining consistent with the observed 511 keV photon flux, $Hα$ constraints from Leo T and all other astrophysical constraints.