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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 595 records · Page 33
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Quantum system engineering for a next-generation search for axion dark matter. Final report

This project pursued two major experimental goals related to the quantum engineering of the ensemble of nuclear spin qubits, as a potential sensing platform for axion-like dark matter: (1) control the fidelity of spin ensemble state preparation, (2) characterize the coherence time of the spin ensemble under different drive conditions. We have successfully achieved these goals. We have experimentally demonstrated control over the polarization of the 207 Pb nuclear spin ensemble, using light-induced transient paramagnetic centers. We have also performed NMR measurements on the 207 Pb spin ensemble in solid ferroelectric PMN-PT, demonstrating the T 2 coherence time of 16.7 ms. We have used this approach to set new experimental limits on the EDM and the gradient interactions of axion-like dark matter in the mass range 162 neV to 166 neV. In addition, having characterized the magnetic resonance properties of the 207 Pb spin ensemble in solid ferroelectric PMN-PT, we have formulated the technical requirements needed to reach the quantum sensitivity limits in a magnetic resonance-based search for axion-like dark matter.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Deciphering dark matter in the Milky Way (Final Technical Report)

The goal of this research grant was to test new methods to test theories of dark matter, whether by detecting the dark matter in the Milky Way in underground experiments, or by tracing the stars in the Milky Way and beyond. This is a final technical report summarizing the research publications over the grant period.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

First Axionlike Particle Results from a Broadband Search for Wavelike Dark Matter in the 44 to 52 μ eV Range with a Coaxial Dish Antenna

We present the results from the first axionlike particle search conducted using a dish antenna. The experiment was conducted at room temperature and sensitive to axionlike particles in the 44 – 52 μ eV range (10.7–12.5 GHz). The novel dish antenna geometry was proposed by the BREAD Collaboration and previously used to conduct a dark photon search in the same mass range. To allow for axionlike particle sensitivity, the BREAD dish antenna was placed in a 3.9 T solenoid magnet at Argonne National Laboratory. In the presence of a magnetic field, axionlike dark matter converts to photons at the conductive surface of the reflector. The signal is focused onto a custom coaxial horn antenna and read out with a low-noise radio-frequency receiver. No evidence of axionlike dark matter was observed in this mass range and we place the most stringent laboratory constraints on the axion-photon coupling strength, g a γ γ , in this mass range at 90% confidence.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2025

Nonsingular black holes as dark matter

It is commonly assumed that low-mass primordial black holes cannot constitute a significant fraction of the dark matter in our universe due to their predicted short lifetimes from the conventional Hawking radiation and evaporation process. Assuming physical black holes are nonsingular—likely due to quantum gravity or other high-energy physics—we demonstrate that a large class of nonsingular black holes have finite evaporation temperatures. This can lead to slowly evaporating low-mass black holes or to remnant mass states that circumvent traditional evaporation constraints. As a proof of concept, we explore the limiting curvature hypothesis and the evaporation process of a nonsingular black hole solution in two-dimensional dilaton gravity. We identify generic features of the radiation profile and compare them with known regular black holes, such as the Bardeen solution in four dimensions. Remnant masses are proportional to the fundamental length scale, and we argue that slowly evaporating low-mass nonsingular black holes, or remnants, are viable dark matter candidates. Published by the American Physical Society 2025

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

First Axionlike Particle Results from a Broadband Search for Wavelike Dark Matter in the 44 to 52 μ ⁢eV Range with a Coaxial Dish Antenna

We present the results from the first axionlike particle search conducted using a dish antenna. The experiment was conducted at room temperature and sensitive to axionlike particles in the 44–52 μ ⁢eV range (10.7–12.5 GHz). The novel dish antenna geometry was proposed by the BREAD Collaboration and previously used to conduct a dark photon search in the same mass range. To allow for axionlike particle sensitivity, the BREAD dish antenna was placed in a 3.9 T solenoid magnet at Argonne National Laboratory. In the presence of a magnetic field, axionlike dark matter converts to photons at the conductive surface of the reflector. The signal is focused onto a custom coaxial horn antenna and read out with a low-noise radio-frequency receiver. No evidence of axionlike dark matter was observed in this mass range and we place the most stringent laboratory constraints on the axion-photon coupling strength, 𝑔 𝑎⁢𝛾⁢𝛾 , in this mass range at 90% confidence.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Enhanced tunable cavity development for axion dark matter searches using a piezoelectric motor in combination with gears

Most search experiments sensitive to quantum chromodynamics (QCD) axion dark matter benefit from microwave cavities, as electromagnetic resonators, that enhance the detectable axion signal power and thus the experimental sensitivity drastically. As the possible axion mass spans multiple orders of magnitude, microwave cavities must be tunable and it is desirable for the cavity to have a tunable frequency range that is as wide as possible. Since the tunable frequency range generally increases as the dimension of the conductor tuning rod increases for a given cylindrical conductor cavity system, we developed a cavity system with a large dimensional tuning rod in order to increase this. Here we, for the first time, employed not only a piezoelectric motor, but also gears to drive a large and accordingly heavy tuning rod, where such a combination to increase driving power can be adopted for extreme environments as is the case for axion dark matter experiments: cryogenic, high-magnetic-field, and high vacuum. Thanks to such higher power derived from the piezoelectric motor and gear combination, we realized a wideband tunable cavity whose frequency range is about 42% of the central resonant frequency of the cavity, without sacrificing the experimental sensitivity too much.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2025

Search for dark matter produced in association with a Higgs boson decaying to a τ lepton pair in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV

A search for dark matter particles produced in association with a Higgs boson decaying into a pair of τ leptons is performed using data collected in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV with the CMS detector. The analysis is based on a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 101 fb −1 collected in 2017–2018. No significant excess over the expected standard model background is observed. This result is interpreted within the frameworks of the 2HDM+a and baryonic Z′ benchmark simplified models. The 2HDM+a model is a type-II two-Higgs-doublet model featuring a heavy pseudoscalar with an additional light pseudoscalar. Upper limits at 95% confidence level are set on the product of the production cross section and the branching fraction for each of these two simplified models. Heavy pseudoscalar boson masses between 400 and 700 GeV are excluded for a light pseudoscalar mass of 100 GeV. For the baryonic Z′ model, a statistical combination is made with an earlier search based on a data set of 36 fb −1 collected in 2016. In this model, Z′ boson masses up to 1050 GeV are excluded for a dark matter particle mass of 1 GeV.

Dark Matter↗
DOE OSTI2024

Investigating Electro-Nuclear Interactions in a New Dark Matter Search

Electro-nuclear (EN) interactions are interactions in which an incident electron collides with a nucleus, scattering the electron and creating byproduct particles. Such interactions are of interest to neutrino physicists, who use EN interactions to inform model building of neutrino-nucleus interactions. The Light Dark Matter Experiment (LDMX) is a small-scale, fixed-target, electron beam experiment which seeks to probe for dark matter and mediator particle production in the sub-GeV mass region. The 8GeV LDMX electron beam will serve as an opportunity to study electro-nuclear interactions in final states in the multi-GeV region. LDMX s missing energy trigger for dark matter interactions however, will not be sufficient to efficiently capture EN interactions. An additional trigger is needed. Using simulated events, that included background and EN interactions, a trigger on momentum was developed.

Croteau, Beatrice↗
DOE OSTI2021

Inelastic dark matter scattering off Thallium cannot save DAMA

We study the compatibility of the observed DAMA modulation signal with inelastic scattering of dark matter (DM) off of the 0.1% Thallium (Tl) dopant in DAMA. In this work we test whether there exist regions of parameter space where the Tl interpretation gives a good fit to the most recent data from DAMA, and whether these regions are compatible with the latest constraints from other direct detection experiments. Previously, Chang et al. in 2010, had proposed the Tl interpretation of the DAMA data, and more recently (in 2019) the DAMA/LIBRA collaboration found regions in parameter space of Tl inelastic scattering that differ by more than 10σ from a no modulation hypothesis. We have expanded upon their work by testing whether the regions of parameter space where inelastic DM-Tl scattering gives a good fit to the most recent DAMA data survive the constraints placed by the lack of a DM signal in XENON1T and CRESST-II. In addition, we have tested how these regions change with the main sources of uncertainty: the Tl quenching factor, which has never been measured directly, and the astrophysical uncertainties in the DM distribution. We conclude that inelastic DM scattering off Tl cannot explain the DAMA data in light of null results from other experiments.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Old neutron stars as a new probe of relic neutrinos and sterile neutrino dark matter

We study the kinetic cooling (heating) of old neutron stars due to coherent scattering with relic neutrinos (sterile neutrino dark matter) via Standard Model neutral-current interactions. We take into account several important physical effects, such as coherent enhancement, gravitational clustering, neutron degeneracy, Pauli blocking and weak potential. We find that the anomalous cooling of neutron stars due to relic neutrino scattering is difficult to observe. However, the anomalous heating of neutron stars due to coherent scattering with keV-scale sterile neutrino dark matter may be observed by current and future telescopes operating in the optical to near-infrared frequency band, such as the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), which would probe hitherto unexplored parameter space in the sterile neutrino mass-mixing plane. Published by the American Physical Society 2025

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Uncertainties in tellurium-based dark matter searches stemming from nuclear structure uncertainties

Using tellurium dioxide as a target, we calculate uncertainties on 90% upper confidence limits of Galilean effective field theory (Galilean EFT) couplings to a weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP) dark matter candidate due to uncertainties in nuclear shell models. We find that these uncertainties in naturally occurring tellurium isotopes are comparable across the different Galilean EFT couplings to uncertainties in xenon, with some reaching over 100%. We also consider the effect these nuclear uncertainties have on estimates of the annual modulation of dark matter from these searches, finding that the uncertainties in the modulation amplitude are proportional to the nonmodulating upper confidence limit uncertainties. We also show that the determination of the modulation phase is insensitive to changes in the nuclear model for a given isotope.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Discretely Charged Dark Matter in Inflation Models Based on Holographic Space-Time

The holographic space-time (HST) model of inflation has a potential explanation for dark matter as tiny primordial black holes. Motivated by a recent paper of Barrau, we propose a version of this model where some of the inflationary black holes (IBHs), whose decay gives rise to the Hot Big Bang, carry the smallest value of a discrete symmetry charge. The fraction f of IBHs carrying this charge is difficult to estimate from first principles, but we determine it by requiring that the crossover between radiation and matter domination occurs at the correct temperature T eq ~ 1eV=10 –28 M P . The fraction is small, f ~ 2×10 –9 , so we believe this gives an extremely plausible model of dark matter.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Large mass single electron resolution detector for dark matter and neutrino elastic interaction searches

Large mass single electron resolution solid state detectors are desirable to search for low mass dark matter candidates and to measure coherent elastic neutrino nucleus scattering (CEvNS). In this paper we present results from a novel 100 g phonon-mediated Si detector with a new interface architecture. This detector gives a baseline resolution of ~ 1e - /h + pair and a leakage current on the order of 10 -16 A. This was achieved by removing the direct electrical contact between the Si crystal and the metallic electrode, and by increasing the phonon absorption efficiency of the sensors. The phonon signal amplification in the detector shows a linear increase while the signal to noise ratio improves with bias voltage, up to 240 V. This feature enables the detector to operate at a low energy threshold which is beneficial for dark matter and CEvNS like searches.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2022

Snowmass 2021 Rare & Precision Frontier (RF6): Dark Matter Production at Intensity-Frontier Experiments

Dark matter particles can be observably produced at intensity-frontier experiments, and opportunities in the next decade will explore important parameter space motivated by thermal DM models, the dark sector paradigm, and anomalies in data. This whitepaper describes the motivations, detection strategies, prospects and challenges for such searches, as well as synergies and complementarity both within RF6 and across HEP.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Association between optically identified galaxy clusters and the underlying dark matter halos

Clusters of galaxies trace massive dark matter halos in the Universe, but they can include multiple halos projected along lines of sight. Here, we study the halos contributing to clusters using the Cardinal simulation, which mimics the Dark Energy Survey data. We use the red-sequence-based cluster finding algorithm redMaPPer as a case study. For each cluster, we identify the halos hosting its member galaxies, and we define the main halo as the one contributing the most to the cluster's richness ($λ$, the estimated number of member galaxies). At $z=0.3$, for clusters with $λ> 60$, the main halo typically contributes to $92\%$ of the richness, and this fraction drops to $67\%$ for $λ\approx 20$. Defining "clean" clusters as those with $\geq50\%$ of the richness contributed by the main halo, we find that $100\%$ of the $λ> 60$ clusters are clean, while $73\%$ of the $λ\approx 20$ clusters are clean. Three halos can usually account for more than $80\%$ of the richness of a cluster. The main halos associated with redMaPPer clusters have a completeness ranging from $98\%$ at virial mass $10^{14.6}~h^{-1}M_{\odot}$ to $64\%$ at $10^{14}~h^{-1}M_{\odot}$. In addition, we compare the inferred cluster centers with true halo centers, finding that $30\%$ of the clusters are miscentered with a mean offset $40\%$ of the cluster radii, in agreement with recent X-ray studies. These systematics worsen as redshift increases, but we expect that upcoming surveys extending to longer wavelengths will improve the cluster finding at high redshifts. Our results affirm the robustness of the redMaPPer algorithm and provide a framework for benchmarking other cluster-finding strategies.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Probing The Longest Dark Matter Lifetimes with the Line Emission Mapper

In the next decade, the proposed Line Emission Mapper (LEM) telescope concept is poised to revolutionize Galactic and extragalactic X-ray sensitivity. The instruments aboard LEM feature unprecedented eV scale energy resolution and an effective area of 1600 cm$^2$ at 0.5 keV. Such features are ideally suited to explore decaying dark matter candidates that predict X-ray signals, including axion-like particles and sterile neutrinos. We present the first forecast of LEM sensitivity to dark matter decays and find sensitivity to lifetimes beyond $\sim 10^{32}$ s in the keV range, surpassing current limits by several orders of magnitude. Notably, our results show that LEM will be the first ever instrument to probe such long dark matter lifetimes in any mass range for any decay channel.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Sensitivity of JWST to eV-Scale Decaying Axion Dark Matter

The recently launched James Webb Space Telescope can resolve eV-scale emission lines arising from dark matter decay. We forecast the end-of-mission sensitivity to the decay of axions, a leading dark matter candidate, in the Milky Way using the blank-sky observations expected during standard operations. Searching for unassociated emission lines will constrain axions in the mass range 0.18 to 2.6 eV with axion-photon couplings g a γ γ ≳ 5.5 × 10 − 12 GeV − 1 . In particular, these results will constrain nucleophobic QCD axions to masses ≲ 0.2 eV . Published by the American Physical Society 2025

Roy, Sandip (ORCID:0000000276387454)↗
DOE OSTI2025

Testing the dark side of neutrino oscillations with the solar neutrino fog at dark matter experiments

The recent detection of the solar neutrino background at dark matter direct detection experiments paves the way to fully explore an important degeneracy in neutrino oscillations in the presence of new interactions, named the LMA-Dark degeneracy. This degeneracy makes it impossible to determine the neutrino mass ordering in oscillation experiments if neutrinos have new vectorial interactions with matter. As the composition of solar neutrinos at the Earth consists of all three neutrino flavors, testing the presence of new neutrino interactions in the muon and tau neutrino sector in scatterings can fully probe the LMA-Dark region for the first time. In this paper we show that current data from XENONnT and PandaX-4T do not yet exclude the LMA-Dark region with equal couplings of a new mediator to muon and tau neutrinos and quarks, and we identify the possible experimental scenarios to do so in the future. We also show that dark matter experiments can distinguish new interactions in the muon or tau sector only from new interactions affecting both sectors.

Particle interactions↗