Sound of Dark Matter: Searching for Light Scalars with Resonant-Mass Detectors

TL;DR

This paper proposes using resonant-mass detectors to search for light scalar dark matter moduli oscillating at frequencies between 1 kHz and 1 GHz, offering a novel method with enhanced sensitivity over previous fifth-force searches.

Contribution

It introduces a new experimental approach utilizing resonant-mass antennas to detect scalar dark matter moduli in a previously unexplored frequency range.

Findings

Resonant-mass detectors can probe scalar dark matter moduli between 1 kHz and 1 GHz.

Proposed experiments can achieve better sensitivity than existing fifth-force searches.

The method opens a new window for detecting light scalar dark matter.

Abstract

The fine-structure constant and the electron mass in string theory are determined by the values of scalar fields called moduli. If the dark matter takes on the form of such a light modulus, it oscillates with a frequency equal to its mass and an amplitude determined by the local dark-matter density. This translates into an oscillation of the size of a solid that can be observed by resonant-mass antennas. Existing and planned experiments, combined with a dedicated resonant-mass detector proposed in this Letter, can probe dark-matter moduli with frequencies between 1 kHz and 1 GHz, with much better sensitivity than searches for fifth forces.