The performance of the LHCb Muon system and its stability across the full 2010 data taking with LHC running at √ s = 7 TeV energy is studied. The optimization of the detector setting and the time calibration performed with the first collisions delivered by LHC is described. Particle rates, measured for the wide range of luminosities and beam operation conditions experienced during the run, are compared with the values expected from simulation. The space and time alignment of the detectors, chamber efficiency, time resolution and cluster size are evaluated. The detector performance is found to be as expected from specifications or better. Notably the overall efficiency is well above the design requirements.

The existence of a new force beyond the Standard Model is compelling because it could explain several striking astrophysical observations which fail standard interpretations. We searched for the light vector mediator of this dark force, the U boson, with the KLOE detector at the DAΦNE e + e − collider. Using an integrated luminosity of 1.54 fb −1 , we studied the process e + e − → Uγ, with U → e + e − , using radiative return to search for a resonant peak in the dielectron invariant-mass distribution. We did not find evidence for a signal, and set a 90% CL upper limit on the mixing strength between the Standard Model photon and the dark photon, ε 2 , at 10 −6 -10 −4 in the 5-520 MeV/c 2 mass range.

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The recent interest in a light gauge boson in the framework of an extra U(1) symmetry motivates searches in the mass range below 1 GeV. We present a search for such a particle, the dark photon, in e + e − → Uγ, U → π + π − based on 28 million e + e − → π + π − γ events collected at DAΦNE by the KLOE experiment. The π + π − production by initial-state radiation compensates for a loss of sensitivity of previous KLOE U → e + e − , µ + µ − searches due to the small branching ratios in the ρ − ω resonance region. We found no evidence for a signal and set a limit at 90% CL on the mixing strength between the photon and the dark photon, ε 2 , in the U mass range between 527 and 987 MeV. Above 700 MeV this new limit is more stringent than previous ones.