01216nas a2200157 4500008004100000245005000041210005000091260001500141490000800156520078000164100001900944700001900963700002000982700001901002856003701021 2020 eng d00aGravitational Direct Detection of Dark Matter0 aGravitational Direct Detection of Dark Matter c10/13/20200 v1023 a
The only coupling dark matter is guaranteed to have with the standard model is through gravity. Here we propose a concept for direct dark matter detection using only this gravitational coupling, enabling a new regime of detection. Leveraging dramatic advances in the ability to create, maintain, and probe quantum states of massive objects, we suggest that an array of quantum-limited impulse sensors may be capable of detecting the correlated gravitational force created by a passing dark matter particle. We present two concrete realizations of this scheme, using either mechanical resonators or freely-falling masses. With currently available technology, a meter-scale apparatus of this type could detect any dark matter candidate around the Planck mass or heavier.
1 aCarney, Daniel1 aGhosh, Sohitri1 aKrnjaic, Gordan1 aTaylor, J., M. uhttps://arxiv.org/abs/1903.0049201697nas a2200181 4500008004100000245007000041210006900111260001400180490000800194520115900202100002301361700001501384700001901399700002001418700001901438700002101457856003701478 2020 eng d00aSearch for composite dark matter with optically levitated sensors0 aSearch for composite dark matter with optically levitated sensor c11/2/20200 v1253 aResults are reported from a search for a class of composite dark matter models with feeble, long-range interactions with normal matter. We search for impulses arising from passing dark matter particles by monitoring the mechanical motion of an optically levitated nanogram mass over the course of several days. Assuming such particles constitute the dominant component of dark matter, this search places upper limits on their interaction with neutrons of αn≤1.2×10−7 at 95\% confidence for dark matter masses between 1--10 TeV and mediator masses mφ≤0.1 eV. Due to the large enhancement of the cross-section for dark matter to coherently scatter from a nanogram mass (∼1029 times that for a single neutron) and the ability to detect momentum transfers as small as ∼200 MeV/c, these results provide sensitivity to certain classes of composite dark matter models that substantially exceeds existing searches, including those employing kg-scale or ton-scale targets. Extensions of these techniques can enable directionally-sensitive searches for a broad class of previously inaccessible heavy dark matter candidates.
1 aMonteiro, Fernando1 aAfek, Gadi1 aCarney, Daniel1 aKrnjaic, Gordan1 aWang, Jiaxiang1 aMoore, David, C. uhttps://arxiv.org/abs/2007.12067