Dark Matter EFT landscape probed by QUEST-DMC

Collapse authors list.
Darvishi, N, Autti, S, Bloomfield, L, Casey, A, Eng, N, Franchini, P, Haley, RP, Heikkinen, PJ, Jennings, A, Kemp, A et al (show 19 more authors) , Leason, E, March-Russell, J, Mayer, A, Monroe, J, Munstermann, D, Noble, MT, Prance, JR, Rojas, X, Salmon, T, Saunders, J, Smirnov, J ORCID: 0000-0002-3082-0929, Smith, R, Thompson, MD, Thomson, A, Ting, A, Tsepelin, V, West, SM, Whitehead, L and Zmeev, DE (2025) Dark Matter EFT landscape probed by QUEST-DMC JOURNAL OF COSMOLOGY AND ASTROPARTICLE PHYSICS, 2025 (10). 044-044. ISSN 1475-7516, 1475-7516

Text 985081.pdf - Unspecified Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract

We present the projected sensitivity to non-relativistic Effective Field Theory (EFT) operators for dark matter (DM) direct detection using the QUEST-DMC experiment. QUEST-DMC employs superfluid Helium-3 as a target medium and measures energy deposition via nanomechanical resonators with SQUID-based readout to probe DM interactions. The experiment aims to explore new parameter space in the sub-GeV mass range, probing light DM and a broad range of interaction models. We analyse the sensitivity to a complete set of fourteen independent non-relativistic EFT operators, each parameterised by a Wilson coefficient that quantifies the strength of DM interactions with Standard Model particles. For each interaction channel, we determine the corresponding sensitivity ceiling due to attenuation of the DM flux incident on the detector, caused by DM scattering in the Earth and atmosphere. As a key component of this analysis, we provide the mapping between the non-relativistic EFT operators and the relativistic bilinear DM-nucleon interactions, and assess the interaction sensitivity to sub-GeV DM in the QUEST-DMC detector. Our findings demonstrate that QUEST-DMC provides a unique probe of DM interactions, particularly in previously unexplored parameter space for momentum- and velocity-dependent interactions, thereby expanding the search for viable DM candidates beyond traditional weakly interacting massive particles.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	dark matter detectors, dark matter experiments, dark matter simulations, dark matter theory
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	10 Sep 2026 11:23
Last Modified:	10 Sep 2026 12:27
DOI:	10.1088/1475-7516/2025/10/044
Related Websites:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3202762
Disclaimer:	The University of Liverpool is not responsible for content contained on other websites from links within repository metadata. Please contact us if you notice anything that appears incorrect or inappropriate.