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Search for Ultralight Scalar Dark Matter with Atomic Spectroscopy

Ken Van Tilburg, Nathan Leefer, Lykourgos Bougas, and Dmitry Budker
Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 011802 – Published 30 June 2015
Physics logo See Synopsis: Looking for a Dark Matter Signal in Atomic Spectra

Abstract

We report new limits on ultralight scalar dark matter (DM) with dilatonlike couplings to photons that can induce oscillations in the fine-structure constant α. Atomic dysprosium exhibits an electronic structure with two nearly degenerate levels whose energy splitting is sensitive to changes in α. Spectroscopy data for two isotopes of dysprosium over a two-year span are analyzed for coherent oscillations with angular frequencies below 1rads1. No signal consistent with a DM coupling is identified, leading to new constraints on dilatonlike photon couplings over a wide mass range. Under the assumption that the scalar field comprises all of the DM, our limits on the coupling exceed those from equivalence-principle tests by up to 4 orders of magnitude for masses below 3×1018eV. Excess oscillatory power, inconsistent with fine-structure variation, is detected in a control channel, and is likely due to a systematic effect. Our atomic spectroscopy limits on DM are the first of their kind, and leave substantial room for improvement with state-of-the-art atomic clocks.

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  • Received 8 April 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.115.011802

© 2015 American Physical Society

Synopsis

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Looking for a Dark Matter Signal in Atomic Spectra

Published 30 June 2015

Scientists have now enlisted atomic spectroscopy in the hunt for dark matter.

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Authors & Affiliations

Ken Van Tilburg1,*, Nathan Leefer2,†, Lykourgos Bougas2,‡, and Dmitry Budker2,3,4,§

  • 1Stanford Institute for Theoretical Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
  • 2Helmholtz Institut Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany
  • 3Institut für Physik, Johannes Gutenberg Universität-Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany
  • 4University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, USA

  • *kenvt@stanford.edu
  • naleefer@uni-mainz.de
  • lybougas@uni-mainz.de
  • §budker@uni-mainz.de

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Issue

Vol. 115, Iss. 1 — 3 July 2015

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