New Light Shed on Dark Photons

Particle physics is in a very interesting phase where major discoveries are hotly anticipated. But predicting where or when breakthroughs will occur is highly speculative. We have the extremely successful standard model as the guiding theoretical description of fundamental particle physics, which encompasses the known basic constituents of matter and their interactions (except gravity). With the recent discovery of the Higgs boson and the inclusion of neutrino mass, the standard model is in splendid agreement with all confirmed measurements. However, it is also clear that particle physics is playing the game with much less than a full deck of “cards” because of the apparent existence of dark matter and dark energy, which, respectively, constitute 25% and 70%of the Universe’s energy budget, based on information from astrophysical and cosmological observations. The standard model only covers the remaining 5% that consists of ordinary matter.