Directional detection of dark matter using solid-state quantum sensing

Abstract

Next-generation dark matter (DM) detectors searching for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) will be sensitive to coherent scattering from solar neutrinos, demanding an efficient background-signal discrimination tool. Directional detectors improve sensitivity to WIMP DM despite the irreducible neutrino background. Wide-bandgap semiconductors offer a path to directional detection in a high-density target material. A detector of this type operates in a hybrid mode. The WIMP or neutrino-induced nuclear recoil is detected using real-time charge, phonon, or photon collection. The directional signal, however, is imprinted as a durable sub-micron damage track in the lattice structure. This directional signal can be read out by a variety of atomic physics techniques, from point defect quantum sensing to x-ray microscopy. In this Review, we present the detector principle as well as the status of the experimental techniques required for directional readout of nuclear recoil tracks. Specifically, we focus on diamond as a target material; it is both a leading platform for emerging quantum technologies and a promising component of next-generation semiconductor electronics. Based on the development and demonstration of directional readout in diamond over the next decade, a future WIMP detector will leverage or motivate advances in multiple disciplines toward precision dark matter and neutrino physics.

Comparison of Mg-based liquid metal ion sources for scalable focused-ion-implantation doping of GaN

“…Focused ion beams (FIBs) are routinely used for microand nano-electronics modification and fabrication, for example, in circuit repair, 4 in mask repair, 5,6 and, more recently, for creating optically active impurities in quantum materials. [7][8][9][10][11][12] Different techniques for generation of FIBs are available, each one with its own advantages and drawbacks. While gas field ionization sources excel with minimum spot sizes, the limitation to few gases makes them have only niche applications.…”

Measurement and Simulation of Ultra-Low-Energy Ion–Solid Interaction Dynamics

“…However, with technological scaling towards smaller devices and shallower junctions, implant energies must decrease [5][6][7][8]. Additionally, as novel materials are introduced to make next-generation devices, including quantum information science (QIS) devices, a larger ion selection becomes necessary [9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. Finally, with the projected integration of 2D materials into future semiconductors, the implants must be made within a single atomic layer and at a precise location [16,17].…”

Deterministic nanoscale quantum spin-defect implantation and diffraction strain imaging

“…The intrinsic sensitivity of point-defects to their host environment makes qubits like the NV − center excellent embedded vectorial strain sensors [22,34,54,59]. Indeed, in combination with state-of-the-art nano-scale x-ray diffraction experiments, they have even been proposed as a viable path for dark matter detection [54,60]. However, for applications such as quantum networking, where most schemes rely on frequency matched photon generation, this defect-to-defect variation is highly undesirable and cannot always be compensated for with DC voltages via device electrodes [16,17,61].…”