Searching for Light Dark Matter and Dark Sectors with the NA64 experiment at the CERN SPS
Поиск легкой темной материи и проявлений темного сектора на ускорителе SPS СERN в эксперименте NA64

Additional data

Submitted: 16.02.2026; Accepted: 22.05.2026; Published 19.06.2026;
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How to Cite

Yu. M. Andreev et al. "Searching for Light Dark Matter and Dark Sectors with the NA64 experiment at the CERN SPS" Natural Sci. Rev. 3 200708 (2026)
https://doi.org/10.54546/NaturalSciRev.200708
BibTex
Yu. M. Andreev1, A. Antonov2, M. A. Ayala Torres3,4, D. Banerjee5, B. Banto Oberhauser6, V. Bautin7, J. Bernhard5, P. Bisio2,8, A. Celentano2
N. Charitonidis5, P. Crivelli6, A. V. Dermenev1, S. V. Donskov1, R. R. Dusaev1, V. N. Frolov7, S. V. Gertsenberger7, S. Girod5, S. N. Gninenko1, A. V. Ivanov7, Y. Kambar7, A. E. Karneyeu1, G. Kekelidze7, B. Ketzer9, D. V. Kirpichnikov1, M. M. Kirsanov1, V. A. Kramarenko1,7, N. V. Krasnikov1,7, S. V. Kuleshov3,4, V. E. Lyubovitskij4, A. Marini2, L. Marsicano2, V. A. Matveev7, R. Mena Fredes4, R. Mena Yanssen4,10, L. Molina Bueno11, M. Mongillo6, D. V. Peshekhonov7, V. A. Polyakov1, B. Radics12, K. Salamatin11, V. D. Samoylenko1, H. Sieber6, D. Shchukin1, O. Soto4,13, V. O. Tikhomirov1, I. Tlisova1, A. N. Toropin1, M. Tuzi11, P. V. Volkov1,7, I. V. Voronchikhin1, J. Zamora-Saá3,4, A. S. Zhevlakov7
  • 1Authors affiliated with an institute covered by a cooperation agreement with CERN
  • 2INFN, Sezione di Genova, 16147, Genova, Italia
  • 3Center for Theoretical and Experimental Particle Physics, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Andres Bello, Fernandez Concha 700, Santiago, Chile
  • 4Millennium Institute for Subatomic Physics at High-Energy Frontier (SAPHIR), Fernandez Concha 700, Santiago, Chile
  • 5CERN, European Organization for Nuclear Research, CH-1211, Geneva, Switzerland
  • 6ETH Zürich, Institute for Particle Physics and Astrophysics, CH-8093, Zürich, Switzerland
  • 7Authors affiliated with an international laboratory covered by a cooperation agreement with CERN
  • 8Università degli Studi di Genova, 16126, Genova, Italia
  • 9Universität Bonn, Helmholtz-Institut für Strahlen-und Kernphysik, 53115, Bonn, Germany
  • 10Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María and CCTVal, 2390123, Valparaíso, Chile
  • 11Instituto de Fisica Corpuscular (CSIC/UV), Carrer del Catedratic Jose Beltran Martinez, 2, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain
  • 12Department of Physics and Astronomy, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
  • 13Departamento de Fisica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de La Serena, Avenida Cisternas 1200, La Serena, Chile
DOI: 10.54546/NaturalSciRev.200708
Keywords: LDM, dark photon
Topics: Physics , High Energy Physics (Experiment)
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Abstract

Since its approval in 2016, NA64 has pioneered Light Dark Matter (LDM) searches with electron [1], positron [2], muon [3], and hadron [4] beams. The experiment has successfully met its primary objectives, as outlined in the EPPS input (2018), and even exceed them producing results that demonstrate its ability to operate in a near background-free environment. The Physics Beyond Collider (PBC) initiative at CERN recognizes NA64’s contributions as complementary and worthy of continued exploration. Its key advantage over beam dump approaches is that the signal rate scales as (coupling)2 rather than (coupling)4, reducing the required beam particles for the same sensitivity.
To fully exploit the NA64 physics potential, an upgrade during LS3 will enable NA64 to run in background-free mode at higher SPS beam rates. Planned upgrades include (a) improved detector hermeticity with a new veto hadron calorimeter, (b) enhanced particle identification with a synchrotron radiation detector, and (c) increased beam rates via upgraded electronics.
With the recently strengthened NA64 collaboration, stable operations and timely data analysis are planned for LHC Run 4. The expected ∼ 1013 electrons, ∼ 1011 positrons (40 and 60 GeV), and ∼ 2×1013 muons on target will allow NA64 to explore new light dark matter regions, with the potential for discovery or conclusive exclusion of many well-motivated LDM models.

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