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# Effective Field Theory of Dark Matter Direct Detection With Collective Excitations

Trickle, Tanner and Zhang, Zhengkang and Zurek, Kathryn M. (2020) Effective Field Theory of Dark Matter Direct Detection With Collective Excitations. . (Unpublished) https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20200930-101234003

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## Abstract

We develop a framework for computing light dark matter direct detection rates through single phonon and magnon excitations via general effective operators. Our work generalizes previous calculations focused on spin-independent interactions involving the total nucleon and electron numbers $N$ (the usual route to excite phonons) and spin-dependent interactions involving the total electron spin $S$ (the usual route to excite magnons), leading us to identify new responses involving the orbital angular momenta $L$, as well as spin-orbit couplings $L\otimes S$ in the target. All four types of responses can excite phonons, while couplings to electron's $S$ and $L$ can also excite magnons. We apply the effective field theory approach to a set of well-motivated relativistic benchmark models, including (pseudo-)scalar mediated interactions, and models where dark matter interacts via a multipole moment, such as a dark electric dipole, magnetic dipole or anapole moment. We find that couplings to point-like degrees of freedom $N$ and $S$ often dominate dark matter detection rates, implying that exotic materials with orbital $L$ order or large spin-orbit couplings $L\otimes S$ are not necessary to have strong reach to a broad class of DM models. We also highlight that phonon based crystal experiments in active R&D (such as SPICE) will probe light dark matter models well beyond those having a simple spin-independent interaction, including e.g. models with dipole and anapole interactions.

Item Type:Report or Paper (Discussion Paper)
Related URLs:
URLURL TypeDescription
http://arxiv.org/abs/2009.13534arXivDiscussion Paper
ORCID:
AuthorORCID
Trickle, Tanner0000-0003-1371-4988
Zhang, Zhengkang0000-0001-8305-5581
Zurek, Kathryn M.0000-0002-2629-337X
Additional Information:We thank Jason Alicea, Sin´ead Griffin, Thomas Harrelson, David Hsieh, Katherine Inzani, Chunxiao Liu, Andrea Mitridate and Mengxing Ye for useful discussion. This work is supported by the Quantum Information Science Enabled Discovery (QuantISED) for High Energy Physics (KA2401032).
Group:Walter Burke Institute for Theoretical Physics
Funders:
Funding AgencyGrant Number
Quantum Information Science Enabled Discovery for High Energy PhysicsKA2401032
Other Numbering System:
Other Numbering System NameOther Numbering System ID
CALT-TH2020-037
Record Number:CaltechAUTHORS:20200930-101234003
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20200930-101234003
Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:105668
Collection:CaltechAUTHORS
Deposited By: Joy Painter
Deposited On:30 Sep 2020 17:18