Ghost Imaging of Dark Particles

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel quantum imaging method called dark SPDC to search for dark sector particles like axion-like particles and dark photons, utilizing optical media to enhance detection sensitivity.

Contribution

It proposes a new experimental approach using optical imaging and spectroscopy to detect dark sector particles via modified SPDC processes in media, with potential for higher sensitivity.

Findings

Demonstrated high-resolution ghost imaging with Skipper-CCD.

Analyzed optical media to enhance dark SPDC signals.

Estimated detection rates for dark sector particles.

Abstract

We propose a new way to use optical tools from quantum imaging and quantum communication to search for physics beyond the standard model. Spontaneous parametric down conversion (SPDC) is a commonly used source of entangled photons in which pump photons convert to a signal-idler pair. We propose to search for "dark SPDC" (dSPDC) events in which a new dark sector particle replaces the idler. Though it does not interact, the presence of a dark particle can be inferred by the properties of the signal photon. Examples of dark states include axion-like-particles and dark photons. We show that the presence of an optical medium opens the phase space of the down-conversion process, or decay, which would be forbidden in vacuum. Search schemes are proposed which employ optical imaging and/or spectroscopy of the signal photons. The signal rates in our proposal scales with the second power of the feeble coupling to new physics, as opposed to light-shining-through-wall experiments whose signal scales with coupling to the fourth. We analyze the characteristics of optical media needed to enhance dSPDC and estimate the rate. A bench-top demonstration of a high resolution ghost imaging measurement is performed employing a Skipper-CCD to demonstrate its utility in a dSPDC search.