Light Dark Matter Scattering in Gravitational Wave Detectors

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential for gravitational wave detectors to detect light dark matter particles below 1 GeV/c², analyzing signal prospects against noise backgrounds and suggesting technological improvements for future detection.

Contribution

It introduces a framework for detecting light dark matter via gravitational wave detectors and evaluates the experimental requirements for such detection.

Findings

Detection feasible with cooler, lighter mirrors

KAGRA can potentially observe signals with specific modifications

Space-based experiments and atomic interferometers offer future prospects

Abstract

We present prospects for discovering dark matter scattering in gravitational wave detectors. The focus of this work is on light, particle dark matter with masses below 1 GeV/c$^{2}$. We investigate how a potential signal compares to typical backgrounds like thermal and quantum noise, first in a simple toy model and then using KAGRA as a realistic example. That shows that for a discovery much lighter and cooler mirrors would be needed. We also give some brief comments on space-based experiments and future atomic interferometers.