Muon g-2 and EDM experiments as muonic dark matter detectors

TL;DR

This paper proposes using muon g-2 and EDM experiments to detect ultralight dark matter coupled to muons, setting new limits and potentially explaining existing anomalies through dark matter-induced effects.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach to detect ultralight dark matter via precision muon experiments and links the muon g-2 anomaly to dark matter interactions.

Findings

Set terrestrial limits on DM-muon interactions using g-2 data.

Current muon g-2 anomaly can be explained by dark matter-induced spin torque.

Time-resolved analysis can verify dark matter signals in muon experiments.

Abstract

The detection of ultralight dark matter through interactions with nucleons, electrons, and photons has been explored in depth. In this work we propose to use precision muon experiments, specifically muon g-2 and electric dipole moment measurements, to detect ultralight dark matter that couples predominantly to muons. We set direct, terrestrial limits on DM-muon interactions using existing g-2 data, and show that a time-resolved reanalysis of ongoing and upcoming precession experiments will be sensitive to dark matter signals. Intriguingly, we also find that the current muon g-2 anomaly can be explained by a spin torque applied to muons from a pseudoscalar dark matter background that induces an oscillating electric dipole moment for the muon. This explanation may be verified by a time-resolved reanalysis.