https://doi.org/10.1140/epjqt/s40507-020-00081-9
Research
Applying the matched-filter technique to the search for dark matter transients with networks of quantum sensors
1
Department of Physics, University of Nevada, Reno, USA
2
School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
* e-mail: ggpanelli@gmail.com
Received:
20
November
2019
Accepted:
12
February
2020
Published online:
21
February
2020
There are several networks of precision quantum sensors in existence, including networks of atomic clocks, magnetometers, and gravitational wave detectors. These networks can be re-purposed for searches of exotic physics, such as direct dark matter searches. Here we explore a detection strategy for macroscopic dark matter objects with such networks using the matched-filter technique. Such “clumpy” dark matter objects would register as transients sweeping through the network at galactic velocities. As a specific example, we consider a network of atomic clocks aboard the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites. We apply the matched-filter technique to simulated GPS atomic clock data and study its utility and performance. The analysis and the developed methodology have a discovery reach up to three orders of magnitude above the previous GPS results and have a wide applicability to other networks of quantum sensors.
Key words: Dark matter / Quantum sensors / Atomic clocks
© The Author(s), 2020
