Directional detection of dark matter with diamond

TL;DR

This paper proposes a novel diamond-based detector combining atomic and particle physics techniques to enhance directional dark matter detection and surpass the neutrino background limit.

Contribution

It introduces a new approach using diamond detectors with NV centers for directional detection of dark matter, addressing current technological challenges.

Findings

Potential to detect WIMPs below the neutrino floor

Integration of particle detection with NV center spectroscopy

Feasible technological pathway outlined for future detectors

Abstract

Searches for WIMP dark matter will in the near future be sensitive to solar neutrinos. Directional detection offers a method to reject solar neutrinos and improve WIMP searches, but reaching that sensitivity with existing directional detectors poses challenges. We propose a combined atomic/particle physics approach using a large-volume diamond detector. WIMP candidate events trigger a particle detector, after which spectroscopy of nitrogen vacancy centers reads out the direction of the incoming particle. We discuss the current state of technologies required to realize directional detection in diamond and present a path towards a detector with sensitivity below the neutrino floor.