Scalar dark matter in the radio-frequency band: atomic-spectroscopy search results

Understand

Among the prominent candidates for dark matter are bosonic fields with small scalar couplings to the Standard-Model particles.

• Several techniques are employed to search for such couplings and the current best constraints are derived from tests of gravity or atomic probes.
• In experiments employing atoms, observables would arise from expected dark-matter-induced oscillations in the fundamental constants of nature.
• These studies are primarily sensitive to underlying particle masses below $10^{-14}$ eV.