Axion-Like Dark Matter Detection Using Stern-Gerlach Interferometer

TL;DR

This paper proposes a novel quantum sensing method using a Stern-Gerlach interferometer to detect axion-like particles, analyzing the interaction effects on superposed neutral atoms with a first-principles quantum field theory approach.

Contribution

It introduces a new detection scheme for ALPs using quantum superpositions in a Stern-Gerlach interferometer combined with a quantum Boltzmann equation analysis.

Findings

Can exclude ALP masses from 10^{-10} to 10^{2} eV.

Can constrain ALP-atom coupling constants from 10^{-13} to 1.

Demonstrates the feasibility of quantum sensors for dark matter detection.

Abstract

Quantum sensors based on the superposition of neutral atoms are promising for sensing the nature of dark matter (DM). In this study, we utilize the Stern-Gerlach (SG) interferometer configuration to seek a novel method for the detection of detect axion-like particles (ALPs). Using an SG interferometer, we create a spatial quantum superposition of neutral atoms such as $^{3}$He and $^{87}$Rb. It is shown that the interaction of ALPs with this superposition induces a relative phase between superposed quantum components. We use the quantum Boltzmann equation (QBE) to introduce a first-principles analysis that describes the temporal evolution of the sensing system. The QBE approach employs quantum field theory (QFT) to highlight the role of the quantum nature of the interactions with the quantum systems. The resulting exclusion area demonstrates that our scheme allows for the exclusion of a range of ALP mass in the range of $10^{-10}\leq m_{a}\leq 10^{2}\,\mathrm{eV}$ and ALP-atom coupling constant in the range $10^{-13}\leq g_{ae}\leq 10^{0}$.