Search for dark photon dark matter near $\mathbf{1\,meV}$ using a superconducting mixer

Abstract

We demonstrate the use of a superconducting mixer for direct searches for dark photon dark matter (DPDM) in the meV mass range. DPDM couples to the ordinary electromagnetic field through kinetic mixing with a coupling constant $χ$ and can convert into ordinary photons at the surface of a metal plate. For DPDM masses of 1 meV, the conversion photons have frequencies of around 240 GHz. At such frequencies, superconducting mixers enable low-noise spectroscopic measurements. We performed a direct search for DPDM in the mass range 1.0047578-1.0047598 meV, corresponding to the frequency range 242.94935-242.94983 GHz, using approximately one hour of data obtained with a cryogenic millimeter-wave receiver based on a superconducting mixer. No significant excess was found, and we set upper limits of $χ< (1.6\text{-}1.9)\times10^{-9}$ at the 95% confidence level. These limits are comparable to existing constraints from solar dark photons. By applying this method, we plan to extend the search to the wider mass range of 0.7-1.1 meV, corresponding to 170-260 GHz, with improved sensitivity.