Dark Matter Couture: Designer Targets and Tailored Detectors for Next-Generation Searches

Traditional direct detection experiments relying on nuclear recoils are ineffective for sub-GeV dark matter (DM), catalyzing research into low-energy excitations in condensed phases. In this talk, I will highlight how our work, using our recently-released package DarkMAGIC [1], leverages exotic quantum materials and conventional tuning knobs to design novel quantum sensing schemes and tailor detector targets for next-generation DM searches. I will introduce our proposal for topological sensing—a quantum sensing scheme based on the unique properties of topological insulators for detecting DM via phonons and magnons. Additionally, I will explore how hydrostatic pressure—a well-established tool for tuning condensed matter but previously unexplored for DM detection—offers a novel route for manipulating target materials. Focusing on solid helium, the most compressible solid, our calculations demonstrate how pressure elevates it from lacking single-phonon reach to rivaling leading candidates. Our findings illustrate that combining the predictive power of electronic structure theory with tunable quantum materials provides a robust framework for accessing lower DM mass regimes and guiding future DM experiments.

[1] https://github.com/Griffin-Group/DarkMAGIC