# Detection prospects for the Cosmic Neutrino Background using laser interferometers

## TL;DR

This paper explores the potential of laser interferometers, similar to gravitational wave detectors, to detect the cosmic neutrino background by measuring tiny forces on a pendulum caused by Earth's movement through neutrinos, and discusses improvements in microgravity environments.

## Contribution

It proposes a novel method using laser interferometers to detect the cosmic neutrino background and suggests enhancements in microgravity for better sensitivity.

## Key findings

- Estimated pendulum acceleration due to neutrino wind
- Laser interferometer sensitivity analysis
- Potential dual use as dark matter detector

## Abstract

The cosmic neutrino background is a key prediction of Big Bang cosmology which has not been observed yet. The movement of the earth through this neutrino bath creates a force on a pendulum, as if it was exposed to a cosmic wind. We revise here estimates for the resulting pendulum acceleration and compare it to the theoretical sensitivity of an experimental setup where the pendulum position is measured using current laser interferometer technology as employed in gravitational wave detectors. We discuss how a significant improvement of this setup can be envisaged in a micro gravity environment. The proposed setup could simultaneously function as a dark matter detector in the sub-MeV range, which currently eludes direct detection constraints.