Sensitivity of Atom Interferometry to Ultralight Scalar Field Dark Matter
Loading...
Authors
Geraci, Andrew A.
Derevianko, Andrei
Issue Date
2016
Type
Article
Language
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
We discuss the use of atom interferometry as a tool to search for dark matter (DM) composed of virialized ultralight fields (VULFs). Previous work on VULF DM detection using accelerometers has considered the possibility of equivalence-principle-violating effects whereby gradients in the dark matter field can directly produce relative accelerations between media of differing composition. In atom interferometers, we find that time-varying phase signals induced by coherent oscillations of DM fields can also arise due to changes in the atom rest mass that can occur between light pulses throughout the interferometer sequence as well as changes in Earth's gravitational field. We estimate that several orders of magnitude of unexplored phase space for VULF DM couplings can be probed due to these new effects.
Description
Citation
Geraci, A. A., & Derevianko, A. (2016). Sensitivity of atom interferometry to ultralight scalar field dark matter. Physical review letters, 117(26), 261301.
Publisher
License
In Copyright (All Rights Reserved)
Journal
Volume
Issue
PubMed ID
ISSN
0031-9007