Searching for dark matter and dark energy with mechanical systems

  • Physics and Astronomy Colloquium

February 14, 2025 3:30 PM - February 14, 2025 4:30 PM
PAIS 1100

Host:
Ivan Deutsch
Presenter:
Dr. Swati Singh (University of Delaware)
Video recording
When properly engineered, simple quantum systems such as harmonic oscillators or spins can be excellent detectors of feeble forces and fields. Following a general introduction to this fast-growing area of research, I will focus on using optomechanical systems as sensors of weak acceleration and strain fields. Ultralight dark matter coupling to standard model fields and particles would produce a coherent strain or acceleration signal in an elastic solid. I will discuss the feasibility of searching for this signal using various optomechanical systems. I will also show that current mechanical systems have the sensitivity to set new constraints on scalar field candidates for dark energy. Finally, I will briefly overview the promise of quantum noise limited detectors in the search for beyond the standard model physics.

Upcoming Events

SQuInT 2026 Annual Workshop
Various
No Affiliation
Oct. 15, 7:30 AM - Oct. 17, 6:30 PM
Omni Tempe Hotel at ASU, Tempe, Arizona

Precision measurement and spectroscopy with color centers
Dr. Victor Acosta (UNM)
Physics and Astronomy Colloquium
Oct. 16, 3:30 PM - Oct. 16, 4:30 PM
PAIS 1100

Where Has This Detector Been? Tracing Cosmic-Ray Exposure in a Field Study from LANSCE to SURF
Ralph Massarczyk (LANL)
Nuclear, Particle, Astroparticle and Cosmology (NUPAC) Seminars
Oct. 20, 2:00 PM

Title: TBA
Jarett Johnson (LANL)
CART Astrophysics Seminar Series
Oct. 22, 2:00 PM - Oct. 22, 3:00 PM
PAIS 3205

Quantum Gravity in the Wild: The Big Bang, Black Holes, and a Cosmic Glitch
Niayesh Afshordi
Physics and Astronomy Colloquium
Oct. 23, 3:30 PM - Oct. 23, 4:30 PM
PAIS 1100