Torsion Balance Experiments Enable Direct Detection of Sub-eV Dark Matter
Abstract
Light dark matter with sub-eV masses has a high number density in our Galaxy, and its scattering cross section with macroscopic objects can be significantly enhanced by coherence effects. Repeated scattering with a target object can induce a measurable acceleration. Torsion balance experiments with geometric asymmetry are, in principle, capable of detecting such signals. Our analysis shows that existing torsion balances designed to test the equivalence principle already place the most stringent constraints on DM-nucleon scattering in the (10^{-2},1) eV mass range.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena
Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies
Astronomy and Astrophysical Research
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Physical Review Letters
- Volume
- 136
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 121803–121803
- Publication date
- 11 March 2026
- Language
- EN