Macro detection using fluorescence detectors

TL;DR

This paper proposes a detection method for macroscopic dark matter using fluorescence detectors, calculating luminosity signals and constraining macro parameters with existing observatories sensitive to nuclear-density objects.

Contribution

It develops a general fluorescence detection scheme for macros and applies it to constrain their properties using data from Pierre Auger and JEM-EUSO.

Findings

Detection scheme applicable to ground and space telescopes.

Constraints on macro parameters using existing observatories.

Sensitivity to macros of nuclear density.

Abstract

Macroscopic dark matter (aka macros) constitutes a broad class of alternatives to particulate dark matter. We calculate the luminosity produced by the passage of a single macro as a function of its physical cross section. A general detection scheme is developed for measuring the fluorescence caused by a passing macro in the atmosphere that is applicable to any ground based or space based Fluorescence Detecting (FD) telescopes. In particular, we employ this scheme to constrain the parameter space ($\sigma_{x} \mbox{ vs} \mbox{ M}_{x}$) of macros than can be probed by the Pierre Auger Observatory and by the Extreme Universe Space Observatory onboard the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM-EUSO). It is of particular significance that both detectors are sensitive to macros of nuclear density, since most candidates that have been explored (excepting primordial black holes) are expected to be of approximately nuclear density.