Dark Matter Induced Power in Quantum Devices

TL;DR

This paper proposes using power measurements in quantum devices to detect light dark matter particles, setting new constraints on their properties and outlining future detection strategies.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method leveraging quantum device power measurements for dark matter detection, extending sensitivity to lower mass ranges.

Findings

Set new constraints on DM scattering cross section for 10 MeV to 10 GeV masses.

Demonstrated the potential of quantum devices to detect DM as light as about 1 MeV.

Outlined future improvements for detecting halo and Earth-thermalized dark matter.

Abstract

We point out that power measurements of single quasiparticle devices open a new avenue to detect dark matter (DM). The threshold of these devices is set by the Cooper pair binding energy, and is therefore so low that they can detect DM as light as about an MeV incoming from the Galactic halo, as well as the low-velocity thermalized DM component potentially present in the Earth. Using existing power measurements with these new devices, as well as power measurements with SuperCDMS-CPD, we set new constraints on the spin-independent DM scattering cross section for DM masses from about 10 MeV to 10 GeV. We outline future directions to improve sensitivity to both halo DM and a thermalized DM population in the Earth using power deposition in quantum devices.