First Search for Ultralight Dark Matter Using a Magnetically Levitated Particle

Physical Review Letters, vol. 134, pp. 251001

Abstract

We perform the first search for ultralight dark matter using a magnetically levitated particle. A submillimeter permanent magnet is levitated in a superconducting trap with a measured force sensitivity of 0.2 fN/sqrt[Hz]. We find no evidence of a signal and derive limits on dark matter coupled to the difference between baryon and lepton number, B-L, in the mass range (1.10360-1.10485)×10^{-13} eV/c^{2}. Our most stringent limit on the coupling strength is g_{B-L}≲2.98×10^{-21}. We propose the POLONAISE (Probing Oscillations using Levitated Objects for Novel Accelerometry In Searches of Exotic physics) experiment, which features short-, medium-, and long-term upgrades that will give us leading sensitivity in a wide mass range, demonstrating the promise of this novel quantum sensing technology in the hunt for dark matter.

Authors 4

1. D. W. P. Amaral corresponding

   Rice University

   Affiliation as printed

   Rice University

2. Dennis G. Uitenbroek Aachen

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden University

3. Tjerk H. Oosterkamp Aachen

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden University

4. Christopher D. Tunnell

   Rice University

   Affiliation as printed

   Rice University