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/1903.00492