The effect of mass fluctuations on Dirac materials sensors for dark matter

ORAL

Abstract

Dirac materials with a non-zero mass term can form a small energy gap that is typically orders of magnitude smaller than accessible with semiconductors. This energy range provides the sensitivity to search for light (i.e. sub-MeV) dark matter while still blocking out the background noise. We study the effect of disorder through a discrete and continuous random mass-term, which both lead to tails (e.g. Lifshitz tails) in the density of states. The presence of disorder puts stringent constraints on the sensor material properties.

*Support from VILLUM FONDEN via the Centre of Excellence for Dirac Materials (Grant No. 11744), the European Research Council under the European Unions Seventh Framework ERS-2018-SYG 810451 HERO, and the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation.

Presenters

  • Bart Olsthoorn

    • NORDITA

Authors

  • Bart Olsthoorn

    • NORDITA
  • Alexander Balatsky

    • NORDITA
    • NORDITA, KTH Royal Institute of Technology; Department of Physics, University of Connecticut