Detecting Dark Matter with Aharonov-Bohm

Abstract

While the evidence for dark matter continues to grow, the nature of the dark matter remains a mystery. A dark $U(1{)}_D$ gauge theory can have a small kinetic mixing with the visible photon which provides a portal to the dark sector. Magnetic monopoles of the dark $U(1{)}_D$ can obtain small magnetic couplings to our photon through this kinetic mixing. This coupling is only manifest below the mass of the dark photon; at these scales the monopoles are bound together by tubes of dark magnetic flux. These flux tubes can produce phase shifts in Aharonov-Bohm type experiments. We outline how this scenario might be realized, examine the existing constraints, and quantify the experimental sensitivity required to detect magnetic dipole dark matter in this novel way.

14 pages, 2 figures; Updated references and expanded discussion agrees with published version

References in corpus (9)

• A direct empirical proof of the existence of dark matter
• The non-gravitational interactions of dark matter in colliding galaxy clusters
• Reopening the window on charged dark matter
• CHAMP Cosmic Rays
• Composite Twin Dark Matter
• Dark Strings
• Hierarchies of Susy Splittings and Invisible Photinos as Dark Matter
• Magnetic Monopoles and Dark Matter
• Dark photon searches with atomic transitions

Cited by in corpus (11)

• Beyond the Standard Models with Cosmic Strings
• Electroweak-Symmetric Dark Monopoles from Preheating
• Spurious Poles in the Scattering of Electric and Magnetic Charges
• Gauge Kinetic Mixing and Dark Topological Defects
• Milli-Magnetic Monopole Dark Matter and the Survival of Galactic Magnetic Fields
• Gravitational capture of magnetic monopoles by primordial black holes in the early universe
• Interactions of electrical and magnetic charges and dark topological defects
• Hidden Sector Monopole Dark Matter with Matter Domination
• Strongly-interacting massive particle and dark photon in the era of intensity frontier
• Black hole dark monopole system
• Geometrizing the Anomaly