Alternative methods for light dark matter searches

by Antonio Davide Polosa

Thursday 18 May 2017, 16:00 → 17:00 Europe/Rome

Aula 4 (Dip. di Fisica - Edificio E. Fermi)

I will describe some recent attempts to provide new methods for light dark matter searches -- sub-GeV Wimps and axion-like particles. A solution to the problem of directional detection might come from carbon ion recoils in large arrays of aligned carbon nanotubes.  The orientation of the array with respect to the direction of motion of the Sun  provides the required anisotropic response for a directional detector, with a good sensitivity for Wimps as light as ~ 1 GeV.  Graphene targets might even allow the detection of sub-GeV Wimps. I will also briefly describe a new class of light-shining-through-wall experiments for axion-like particles based on sub-THz radiation sources and ultra-cold light detectors. Finally I will comment on the claimed measurement  of vacuum birefringence through light polarization from Magnetars, and consider the potential role of axion-like particles.