Event Details

We propose a new dark matter detection strategy using the graphene-based Josephson junction microwave single photon detector, a “state-of-the-art” technology. It was recently demonstrated in the laboratory that the device is sensitive even to sub-meV energy deposited at π-bond electrons. Therefore, the associated detectors are, for the first time, capable of sensing (warm) dark matter of sub-keV mass scattering off electrons, more specifically of mx>0.1 keV. We investigate detection prospects with a mg-scale prototypical detector and a g-scale detector, calculating the scattering event rate between dark matter and free electrons in the graphene with Pauli blocking factors included. We expect not only that the proposed detector serves as a complementary probe of superlight dark matter but that due to the extremely low energy threshold it can achieve higher experimental sensitivities than those of other proposed experiments featured by a low threshold, with the same target mass.