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Centers GP, Blanchard JW, Conrad J, Figueroa NL, Garcon A, Gramolin AV, Kimball DFJ, Lawson M, Pelssers B, Smiga JA, Sushkov AO, Wickenbrock A, Budker D, Derevianko A. Stochastic fluctuations of bosonic dark matter. Nat Commun 2021; 12:7321. [PMID: 34916510 PMCID: PMC8677790 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27632-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous theories extending beyond the standard model of particle physics predict the existence of bosons that could constitute dark matter. In the standard halo model of galactic dark matter, the velocity distribution of the bosonic dark matter field defines a characteristic coherence time τc. Until recently, laboratory experiments searching for bosonic dark matter fields have been in the regime where the measurement time T significantly exceeds τc, so null results have been interpreted by assuming a bosonic field amplitude Φ0 fixed by the average local dark matter density. Here we show that experiments operating in the T ≪ τc regime do not sample the full distribution of bosonic dark matter field amplitudes and therefore it is incorrect to assume a fixed value of Φ0 when inferring constraints. Instead, in order to interpret laboratory measurements (even in the event of a discovery), it is necessary to account for the stochastic nature of such a virialized ultralight field. The constraints inferred from several previous null experiments searching for ultralight bosonic dark matter were overestimated by factors ranging from 3 to 10 depending on experimental details, model assumptions, and choice of inference framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary P Centers
- Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, Mainz, 55128, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute, Mainz, 55099, Germany
| | | | - Jan Conrad
- Department of Physics, Stockholm University, AlbaNova, 10691, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nataniel L Figueroa
- Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, Mainz, 55128, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute, Mainz, 55099, Germany
| | - Antoine Garcon
- Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, Mainz, 55128, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute, Mainz, 55099, Germany
| | | | | | - Matthew Lawson
- Helmholtz Institute, Mainz, 55099, Germany
- Department of Physics, Stockholm University, AlbaNova, 10691, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Bart Pelssers
- Department of Physics, Stockholm University, AlbaNova, 10691, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Joseph A Smiga
- Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, Mainz, 55128, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute, Mainz, 55099, Germany
| | | | - Arne Wickenbrock
- Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, Mainz, 55128, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute, Mainz, 55099, Germany
| | - Dmitry Budker
- Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, Mainz, 55128, Germany.
- Helmholtz Institute, Mainz, 55099, Germany.
- Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720-7300, USA.
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Tran Tan HB, Derevianko A, Dzuba VA, Flambaum VV. Atomic Ionization by Scalar Dark Matter and Solar Scalars. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2021; 127:081301. [PMID: 34477413 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.127.081301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
We calculate the cross sections of atomic ionization by absorption of scalar particles in the energy range from a few eV to 100 keV. We consider both nonrelativistic particles (dark matter candidates) and relativistic particles that may be produced inside the Sun. We provide numerical results for atoms relevant for direct dark matter searches (O, Na, Ar, Ca, Ge, I, Xe, W and Tl). We identify a crucial flaw in previous calculations and show that they overestimated the ionization cross sections by several orders of magnitude due to violation of the orthogonality of the bound and continuum electron wave functions. Using our computed cross sections, we interpret the recent data from the Xenon1T experiment, establishing the first direct bounds on coupling of scalars to electrons. We argue that the Xenon1T excess can be explained by the emission of scalars from the Sun. Although our finding is in a similar tension with astrophysical bounds as the solar axion hypothesis, we establish direct limits on scalar DM for the ∼1-10 keV mass range. We also update axio-ionization cross sections. Numerical data files are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- H B Tran Tan
- Department of Physics, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89557, USA
- School of Physics, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia
| | - A Derevianko
- Department of Physics, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89557, USA
| | - V A Dzuba
- School of Physics, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia
| | - V V Flambaum
- School of Physics, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia
- Helmholtz Institute Mainz, Johannes Gutenberg University, 55099 Mainz, Germany
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Manley J, Chowdhury MD, Grin D, Singh S, Wilson DJ. Searching for Vector Dark Matter with an Optomechanical Accelerometer. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2021; 126:061301. [PMID: 33635693 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.126.061301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
We consider using optomechanical accelerometers as resonant detectors for ultralight dark matter. As a concrete example, we describe a detector based on a silicon nitride membrane fixed to a beryllium mirror, forming an optical cavity. The use of different materials gives access to forces proportional to baryon (B) and lepton (L) charge, which are believed to be coupling channels for vector dark matter particles ("dark photons"). The cavity meanwhile provides access to quantum-limited displacement measurements. For a centimeter-scale membrane precooled to 10 mK, we argue that sensitivity to vector B-L dark matter can exceed that of the Eöt-Wash experiment in integration times of minutes, over a fractional bandwidth of ∼0.1% near 10 kHz (corresponding to a particle mass of 10^{-10} eV/c^{2}). Our analysis can be translated to alternative systems, such as levitated particles, and suggests the possibility of a new generation of tabletop experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack Manley
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA
| | - Mitul Dey Chowdhury
- Wyant College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA
| | - Daniel Grin
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Haverford College, Haverford, Pennsylvania 19041, USA
| | - Swati Singh
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA
| | - Dalziel J Wilson
- Wyant College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA
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Geraci AA, Bradley C, Gao D, Weinstein J, Derevianko A. Searching for Ultralight Dark Matter with Optical Cavities. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2019; 123:031304. [PMID: 31386466 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.123.031304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Revised: 02/16/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
We discuss the use of optical cavities as tools to search for dark matter (DM) composed of virialized ultralight fields (VULFs). Such fields could lead to oscillating fundamental constants, resulting in oscillations of the length of rigid bodies. We propose searching for these effects via differential strain measurement of rigid and suspended-mirror cavities. We estimate that more than 2 orders of magnitude of unexplored phase space for VULF DM couplings can be probed at VULF Compton frequencies in the audible range of 0.1-10 kHz.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew A Geraci
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
| | - Colin Bradley
- Department of Physics, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89557, USA
| | - Dongfeng Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | | | - Andrei Derevianko
- Department of Physics, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89557, USA
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Brdar V, Kopp J, Liu J, Prass P, Wang XP. Fuzzy dark matter and nonstandard neutrino interactions. Int J Clin Exp Med 2018. [DOI: 10.1103/physrevd.97.043001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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Hu L, Poli N, Salvi L, Tino GM. Atom Interferometry with the Sr Optical Clock Transition. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2017; 119:263601. [PMID: 29328726 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.119.263601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
We report on the realization of a matter-wave interferometer based on single-photon interaction on the ultranarrow optical clock transition of strontium atoms. We experimentally demonstrate its operation as a gravimeter and as a gravity gradiometer. No reduction of interferometric contrast was observed for a total interferometer time up to ∼10 ms, limited by geometric constraints of the apparatus. Single-photon interferometers represent a new class of high-precision sensors that could be used for the detection of gravitational waves in so far unexplored frequency ranges and to enlighten the boundary between quantum mechanics and general relativity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Hu
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia and LENS - Università di Firenze, INFN - Sezione di Firenze, Via Sansone 1, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Nicola Poli
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia and LENS - Università di Firenze, INFN - Sezione di Firenze, Via Sansone 1, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Leonardo Salvi
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia and LENS - Università di Firenze, INFN - Sezione di Firenze, Via Sansone 1, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Guglielmo M Tino
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia and LENS - Università di Firenze, INFN - Sezione di Firenze, Via Sansone 1, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
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Blas D, Nacir DL, Sibiryakov S. Ultralight Dark Matter Resonates with Binary Pulsars. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2017; 118:261102. [PMID: 28707940 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.118.261102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
We consider the scenario where dark matter (DM) is represented by an ultralight classical scalar field performing coherent periodic oscillations. We point out that such DM perturbs the dynamics of binary systems either through its gravitational field or via direct coupling to ordinary matter. This perturbation gets resonantly amplified if the frequency of DM oscillations is close to a (half-)integer multiple of the orbital frequency of the system and leads to a secular variation of the orbital period. We suggest using binary pulsars as probes of this scenario and estimate their sensitivity. While the current accuracy of observations is not yet sufficient to probe the purely gravitational effect of DM, it already yields constraints on direct coupling that are competitive with other bounds. The sensitivity will increase with the upcoming radio observatories such as the Square Kilometer Array.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Blas
- Theoretical Physics Department, CERN, CH-1211 Genève 23, Switzerland
| | - Diana López Nacir
- Theoretical Physics Department, CERN, CH-1211 Genève 23, Switzerland
| | - Sergey Sibiryakov
- Theoretical Physics Department, CERN, CH-1211 Genève 23, Switzerland
- Institute of Physics, LPPC, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Institute for Nuclear Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 60th October Anniversary Prospect, 7a, 117312 Moscow, Russia
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