Search for New Particles with Flying Quantum Sensors in Space

TL;DR

This paper proposes using space-based quantum sensors to detect ultralight particles beyond the standard model, leveraging enhanced interactions and velocity in space to significantly improve search sensitivity over terrestrial experiments.

Contribution

It introduces a novel space-based quantum sensing approach for ultralight particle detection, achieving up to seven orders of magnitude sensitivity improvement compared to ground-based methods.

Findings

Space platforms significantly enhance interaction signals.

Search sensitivity can surpass terrestrial experiments by up to 7 orders of magnitude.

Velocity and abundance factors in space improve detection prospects.

Abstract

Recent advancements in space science and technologies offer exciting prospects for investigating novel research that is unattainable within terrestrial laboratories. Here we propose the implementation of space-based quantum sensing to explore ultralight new particles beyond the standard model. The central idea involves probing long-range interactions between spin ensembles of space quantum sensors and the particles residing within Earth, mediated by ultralight particles. We show that such interactions can be substantially enhanced in space platforms and thus increase the search sensitivity. In contrast to their terrestrial counterparts, space-based quantum searches exhibit remarkable velocity enhancements, approaching the first cosmic speed, and thus enables the exploration of unexplored parameter space concerning ultralight new particles. Furthermore, the substantial abundance of electrons and nucleons within Earth plays a crucial role in extending the scope of our mission. Our projected search sensitivity can surpass the sensitivities of both terrestrial experiments and proposals by up to approximately 7 orders of magnitude. We also briefly discuss other space mission, including ``space-ground integrated" network of quantum sensors for dark matter searches.