Snowmass2021 Cosmic Frontier White Paper: Ultraheavy particle dark matter

TL;DR

This white paper discusses the potential for detecting ultraheavy dark matter particles, ranging from 10 TeV to the Planck scale, emphasizing new detection strategies and technological developments needed for future searches.

Contribution

It highlights the unexplored parameter space of ultraheavy dark matter and proposes new experimental approaches and detector technologies for future searches.

Findings

Current detectors can be adapted for ultraheavy dark matter searches.

Next-generation detectors and quantum sensing can improve detection sensitivity.

A broad, unexplored mass range offers new opportunities for dark matter discovery.

Abstract

We outline the unique opportunities and challenges in the search for "ultraheavy" dark matter candidates with masses between roughly $10~{\rm TeV}$ and the Planck scale $m_{\rm pl} \approx 10^{16}~{\rm TeV}$. This mass range presents a wide and relatively unexplored dark matter parameter space, with a rich space of possible models and cosmic histories. We emphasize that both current detectors and new, targeted search techniques, via both direct and indirect detection, are poised to contribute to searches for ultraheavy particle dark matter in the coming decade. We highlight the need for new developments in this space, including new analyses of current and imminent direct and indirect experiments targeting ultraheavy dark matter and development of new, ultra-sensitive detector technologies like next-generation liquid noble detectors, neutrino experiments, and specialized quantum sensing techniques.