Energy Efficient Readout of Windchime Sensors for Direct Detection of Dark Matter

Recent advances in mechanical sensing technologies have led to the suggestion that heavy dark matter candidates around the Planck mass could be detected in the lab through their gravitational interaction alone. With this ultimate goal on the horizon, the Windchime collaboration is involved in developing the necessary techniques, systems, and experimental setups, using arrays of optomechanical sensors. For operations of these devices, the power requirement in the optical domain, and the measurement-added noise due to the readout, pose a critical challenge in achieving the desired sensitivity. Here we discuss the advantages of a microwave-domain readout platform which will help us in navigating these technical challenges for the next generation Windchime sensors. We also examine a simple stroboscopic measurement protocol that can be employed for the readout of these devices, which will aid in reducing the measurement-added noise to approach the desired sensitivity for gravitational direct detection of dark matter.