The quantum mechanics of direct detection with atom interferometers

Ryan Plestid, Ph.D.

Atom interferometry is an advancing subfield of quantum sensing that offers unique prospects for dark matter direct detection. Somewhat underappreciated is their ability to detect particle-like, in addition to wave-like, dark matter candidates. In this talk I will explain how an atom interferometer "works" as a dark matter detector. If time permits I will present a novel search strategy based on statistical fluctuations of the observed count rate.