Quantum sensor networks as exotic field telescopes for multi-messenger astronomy

Dailey, Conner; Bradley, Colin; Kimball, Derek F. Jackson; Sulai, Ibrahim; Pustelny, Szymon; Wickenbrock, Arne; Derevianko, Andrei

doi:10.1038/s41550-020-01242-7

Cited by 46 publications

(64 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…The algorithm searches for a characteristic signal pattern across GNOME, having properties consistent with the passage of Earth through an ALP domain wall. Separate analyses to search for transient oscillatory signals associated with boson stars 12 and bursts of exotic low-mass fields from cataclysmic astrophysical events 31 are presently underway.…”

Section: Mainmentioning

confidence: 99%

Search for topological defect dark matter with a global network of optical magnetometers

et al. 2021

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Ultralight bosons such as axion-like particles are viable candidates for dark matter. They can form stable, macroscopic field configurations in the form of topological defects that could concentrate the dark matter density into many distinct, compact spatial regions that are small compared with the Galaxy but much larger than the Earth. Here we report the results of the search for transient signals from the domain walls of axion-like particles by using the global network of optical magnetometers for exotic (GNOME) physics searches. We search the data, consisting of correlated measurements from optical atomic magnetometers located in laboratories all over the world, for patterns of signals propagating through the network consistent with domain walls. The analysis of these data from a continuous month-long operation of GNOME finds no statistically significant signals, thus placing experimental constraints on such dark matter scenarios.

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Section: Mainmentioning

confidence: 99%

Search for topological defect dark matter with a global network of optical magnetometers

et al. 2021

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“…where j indicates either proton or neutron, σ j corresponds to the proton or neutron fraction of the nuclear spin polarisation of AM and NG (denoted with upper indices), µ B is the Bohr magneton, µ N is the nuclear magneton, g S is the AM Landé factor, and g K is the NG nuclear spin g-factor. Equations (5) show that the effective pseudo-magnetic fields for the NG are generally different from those for the AM. Thus, for the simulations or interpretation of results, it is convenient to introduce scaling factors η j which allows comparison between the response of the SERF magnetometer and the co-magnetometer to nonmagnetic spin couplings of the same strength…”

Section: Nuclear Spin Content and Sensitivity To Neutron And Proton Spin Perturbationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A particular example of such OPMs application is the search for microscopic-range spin-dependent interactions, indicating a possibility of existence of axion-like particles (ALPs), which are one of prime candidates for the dark matter 2 . OPMs are also used to search for transient nonmagnetic spin couplings, which could arise due to interaction with macroscopic objects made of ALPs, in particular, Q-balls 3 , topological defects (e.g., domain walls) of ALP field 4 , or ALP-field pulses generated in cataclysmic astrophysical events (e.g., black-hole mergers) 5 . These transient couplings are targeted by the Global Network of Optical Magnetometers for Exotic physics searches (GNOME) [6][7][8] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Self-Compensating Co-Magnetometer vs. Spin-Exchange Relaxation-Free Magnetometer: Sensitivity To Nonmagnetic Spin Couplings

Padniuk¹,

Kopciuch²,

Cipolletti³

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Searches for pseudo-magnetic spin couplings require implementation of techniques capable of sensitive detection of such interactions. While Spin-Exchange Relaxation Free (SERF) magnetometry is one of the most powerful approaches enabling the searches, it suffers from a strong magnetic coupling, deteriorating the pseudo-magnetic coupling sensitivity. To address this problem, here, we compare, via numerical simulations, the performance of SERF magnetometer and noble-gas-alkali-metal co-magnetometer, operating in a so-called self-compensating regime. We demonstrate that the co-magnetometer allows reduction of the sensitivity to low-frequency magnetic fields without loss of the sensitivity to nonmagnetic couplings. Based on that we investigate the responses of both systems to the oscillating and transient spin perturbations. Our simulations reveal about five orders of magnitude stronger response to the neutron pseudo-magnetic coupling and about three orders of magnitude stronger response to the proton pseudo-magnetic coupling of the co-magnetometer than those the SERF magnetometer. Different frequency responses of the co-magnetometer to magnetic and nonmagnetic perturbations enables differentiation between these two types of interactions. This outlines the ability to implement the co-magnetometer as an advanced sensor for the Global Network of Optical Magnetometer for Exotic Physics searches (GNOME), aiming at detection of ultra-light bosons (e.g., axion-like particles).

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“…Following these ideas, one may perform DM searches that are many orders of magnitude more sensitive than the existing constraints for certain models, and have discovery reach inaccessible by other means. Our proposal is complimentary to other ultralight DM searches, e.g., [36,[38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46]. The technique proves particularly appealing for the parameter space of small clumps or high number density objects, where the expected encounter rate may be high.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…A general challenge with searching for transient signals is that they are difficult to distinguish from conventional noise. One approach [11,31] is to use a network of devices, and search for the correlated propagation of transients that sweep through the network at galactic velocities, v g ∼ 300 km/s (see also [24,[32][33][34][35][36]). However, objects of spatial extent smaller than the network node separation would not produce such a signature.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Precision Measurement Noise Asymmetry and Its Annual Modulation as a Dark Matter Signature

Roberts

Derevianko

2021

Universe

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Dark matter may be composed of self-interacting ultralight quantum fields that form macroscopic objects. An example of which includes Q-balls, compact non-topological solitons predicted by a range of theories that are viable dark matter candidates. As the Earth moves through the galaxy, interactions with such objects may leave transient perturbations in terrestrial experiments. Here we propose a new dark matter signature: an asymmetry (and other non-Gaussianities) that may thereby be induced in the noise distributions of precision quantum sensors, such as atomic clocks, magnetometers, and interferometers. Further, we demonstrate that there would be a sizeable annual modulation in these signatures due to the annual variation of the Earth velocity with respect to dark matter halo. As an illustration of our formalism, we apply our method to 6 years of data from the atomic clocks on board GPS satellites and place constraints on couplings for macroscopic dark matter objects with radii R<104km, the region that is otherwise inaccessible using relatively sparse global networks.

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Quantum sensor networks as exotic field telescopes for multi-messenger astronomy

Cited by 46 publications

References 43 publications

Search for topological defect dark matter with a global network of optical magnetometers

Search for topological defect dark matter with a global network of optical magnetometers

Self-Compensating Co-Magnetometer vs. Spin-Exchange Relaxation-Free Magnetometer: Sensitivity To Nonmagnetic Spin Couplings

Precision Measurement Noise Asymmetry and Its Annual Modulation as a Dark Matter Signature

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