Making the invisible visible: searching for dark photons using a multilayer dielectric haloscope

by Laura Manenti (New York University Abu Dhabi)

Wednesday 29 Jun 2022, 13:30 → 14:30 Europe/Stockholm

Albano 3: 6228 - Mega (22 seats) (Albano Building 3)

Hybrid talk: Mega (6228, Hus 3, Albano) + https://stockholmuniversity.zoom.us/j/530682073

A stream of indirect evidence supports a model of the Universe where 85% of its mass is in the form of dark matter (DM), a new type of beyond-the-Standard-Model particle that has yet to be detected. Probing the fundamental nature of dark matter is recognised internationally as one of the top priorities in science and its direct detection would drastically revolutionise particle physics, astrophysics, and cosmology.

While DM direct searches have mainly focused on detecting weakly-interacting massive particles (WIMPs), alternative models exist. As WIMPs become less motivated, with large experiments ruling out the traditionally favoured parameter space, dark photons (DP) are receiving increasing attention among the alternative DM models.

At New York University Abu Dhabi we have designed, constructed, and operated a dielectric haloscope for the detection of dark photons called MuDHí. MuDHÍ also happens to be the first dark matter detector to ever operate in the Middle East.

Manenti_2022-06-29.mp4