Search for ultralight dark matter with a frequency adjustable diamagnetic levitated sensor

TL;DR

This paper proposes a diamagnetic levitated sensor to search for ultralight dark matter, achieving over tenfold improvement in coupling constant limits in the 0.1-100Hz frequency range.

Contribution

It introduces a frequency-adjustable diamagnetic levitated micromechanical oscillator for ultralight dark matter detection, expanding measurement capabilities at higher frequencies.

Findings

Coupling constant limits improved by over 10 times

Sensor resonance frequency adjustable from 0.1Hz to 100Hz

Potential for higher accuracy with sensor arrays

Abstract

Among several dark matter candidates, bosonic ultralight (sub meV) dark matter is well motivated because it could couple to the Standard Model (SM) and induce new forces. Previous MICROSCOPE and Eot Wash torsion experiments have achieved high accuracy in the sub-1 Hz region, but at higher frequencies there is still a lack of relevant experimental research. We propose an experimental scheme based on the diamagnetic levitated micromechanical oscillator, one of the most sensitive sensors for acceleration sensitivity below the kilohertz scale. In order to improve the measurement range, we used the sensor whose resonance frequency could be adjusted from 0.1Hz to 100Hz. The limits of the coupling constant are improved by more than 10 times compared to previous reports, and it may be possible to achieve higher accuracy by using the array of sensors in the future.