First Search for Ultralight Dark Matter Using a Magnetically Levitated Particle

Abstract

We perform the first search for ultralight dark matter using a magnetically levitated particle. A sub-millimeter permanent magnet is levitated in a superconducting trap with a measured force sensitivity of $0.2fN/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}$. We find no evidence of a signal and derive limits on dark matter coupled to the difference between baryon and lepton number, $B-L$, in the mass range $(1.10360\text{ - }1.10485)\times 10^{-13}\mathrm{eV}/c^2$. Our most stringent limit on the coupling strength is $g_{B-L}\lesssim 2.98\times 10^{-21}$. We propose the POLONAISE (Probing Oscillations using Levitated Objects for Novel Accelerometry in Searches of Exotic physics) experiment, featuring short-, medium-, and long-term upgrades that will give us leading sensitivity in a wide mass range and demonstrating the promise of this novel quantum sensing technology in the hunt for dark matter.

Matches published version. 5 pages, 7 figures, 1 table, 5 appendices