Coherent scattering of low mass dark matter from optically trapped sensors

TL;DR

This paper proposes using optically trapped sensors to detect low mass dark matter via momentum recoils, potentially exploring new parameter space and enabling directional detection for unambiguous identification.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method employing optically trapped sensors for low mass dark matter detection, including the potential for coherent scattering and directional sensitivity.

Findings

Sensors can probe parameter space beyond current experiments.

Coherent scattering enhances detection cross-section for small sensors.

Large sensor arrays could detect dark matter as light as 10 keV.

Abstract

We propose a search for low mass dark matter particles through momentum recoils caused by their scattering from trapped, nm-scale objects. Our projections show that even with a modest array of fg-mass sensors, parameter-space beyond the reach of existing experiments can be explored. The case of smaller, ag-mass sensors is also analyzed - where dark matter can coherently scatter from the entire sensor - enabling a large enhancement in the scattering cross-section relative to interactions with single nuclei. Large arrays of such sensors have the potential to explore new parameter space down to dark matter masses as low as 10 keV. If recoils from dark matter are detected by such sensors, their inherent directional sensitivity would allow an unambiguous identification of a dark matter signal.