Title: Sensing Gravitational Waves and Dark Matter with Superfluid Helium
Abstract: Observations spanning multiple astronomical scales point to the existence of an unknown form of matter, dubbed “dark matter”, that constitutes over 85% of the mass of most galaxies. Recent theoretical insights into the possible nature of dark matter and how it interacts with normal matter have inspired a wide range of experimental efforts aimed at directly detecting dark matter. As part of this effort, we are developing a small-scale experiment to search for multiple well-motivated “ultralight” dark matter candidates, placing stronger bounds than are currently possible with high-cost and/or large-scale efforts. The core enabling technology relies on microwave cavity readout of mechanical motion in superfluid helium. I will tell you about the experiments that have led up to where we are now, and our current efforts with regards to this table-top dark matter search.