Abstract
Among the prominent candidates for dark matter are bosonic fields with small scalar couplings to the standard-model particles. Several techniques are employed to search for such couplings, and the current best constraints are derived from tests of gravity or atomic probes. In experiments employing atoms, observables would arise from expected dark-matter-induced oscillations in the fundamental constants of nature. These studies are primarily sensitive to underlying particle masses below 10(-14) eV. We present a method to search for fast oscillations of fundamental constants using atomic spectroscopy in cesium vapor. We demonstrate sensitivity to scalar interactions of dark matter associated with a particle mass in the range 8 x 10(-11) to 4 x 10(-7) eV. In this range our experiment yields constraints on such interactions, which within the framework of an astronomical-size dark matter structure are comparable with, or better than, those provided by experiments probing deviations from the law of gravity.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 141102 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Physical Review Letters |
Volume | 123 |
Issue number | 14 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 3 Oct 2019 |
Funding
We are grateful to M. G. Kozlov, V. V. Flambaum, V. Dzuba, and Y. Stadnik for fruitful discussions. We acknowledge technical support from A. Brogna, M. Schott, T. H. Lin, and A. Düdder. The work is supported by the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (Dark-OST, Grant Agreement No. 695405), and the DFG Reinhart Koselleck project. The work of G. P. is supported by grants from the BSF, ERC, ISF; the work of R. O. and G. P. is jointly supported by the Minerva Foundation, and the Segre Research Award. The work of R. O. is supported by the ISF, ERC, and the Israeli Ministry of Science and Technology.