New axion and hidden photon constraints from a solar data global fit

Abstract

We present a new statistical analysis that combines helioseismology (sound speed, surface helium and convective radius) and solar neutrino observations (the $^8$B and $^7$Be fluxes) to place upper limits to the properties of non standard weakly interacting particles. Our analysis includes theoretical and observational errors, accounts for tensions between input parameters of solar models and can be easily extended to include other observational constraints. We present two applications to test the method: the well studied case of axions and axion-like particles and the more novel case of low mass hidden photons. For axions we obtain an upper limit at $3\sigma$ for the axion-photon coupling constant of $g_{a\gamma}\,<\,4.1 \cdot 10^{-10} \rm{GeV^{-1}}$. For hidden photons we obtain the most restrictive upper limit available accross a wide range of masses for the product of the kinetic mixing and mass of $\chi m < 1.8 \cdot 10^{-12} \rm{eV}$ at $3\sigma$. Both cases improve the previous solar constraints based on the Standard Solar Models showing the power of using a global statistical approach.