A counter-top search for macroscopic dark matter

Abstract

A number of dark matter candidates have been discussed that are macroscopic, of approximately nuclear density, and scatter ordinary matter essentially elastically with approximately their geometric cross-section. A wide range of mass and geometric cross-section is still unprobed for these "macros." Macros passing through rock would melt the material in cylinders surrounding their long nearly straight trajectories. Once cooled, the resolidified rock would be easily distinguishable from its surroundings. We discuss how, by visually examining ordinary slabs of rock such as are widely available commercially for kitchen countertops, one could probe an interesting segment of the open macro parameter space.

arXiv comment5 pages, 2 figure

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Cited by in corpus (11)

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• Charge Constraints of Macroscopic Dark Matter
• Straight Lightning as a Signature of Macroscopic Dark Matter
• Galactic Geology: Probing Time-Varying Dark Matter Signals with Paleo-Detectors
• Updated cosmological constraints on Macroscopic Dark Matter
• Microscopic composite systems bound by strong gravity in extra dimensions as candidates for dark matter
• Projected Sensitivity of Paleo-Detectors to Dark Matter Effective Interactions with Nuclei