Detection prospects for the Cosmic Neutrino Background using matter interferometers

TL;DR

This paper explores the theoretical possibility of detecting the Cosmic Neutrino Background using matter interferometers by analyzing phase differences caused by neutrino interactions, but concludes current technology is insufficient for detection.

Contribution

It introduces a framework for understanding how neutrino and dark matter potentials could influence matter interferometry measurements, highlighting future detection prospects.

Findings

Current technology cannot detect the neutrino-induced phase shifts.

Neutrino matter potential and related effects can be expressed via scalar potentials and spin interactions.

Fermionic Dark Matter could produce larger detectable effects than neutrinos.

Abstract

In this paper we discuss how the Cosmic Neutrino Background can affect the measured phase difference in a matter interferometer. This phase is proportional to a difference in potential energies along the two interferometer paths. The relevant potentials here are the well-known neutrino matter potential and a potential related to the Stodolsky effect. We show how they can be rewritten in terms of scalar potentials, pseudo magnetic fields and spin-spin interactions. Unfortunately, current technology is unlikely to detect this effect and we discuss prospects for the future. We also briefly comment on fermionic Dark Matter which can give rise to very similar effects which can easily be larger than the neutrino case.