Scalar Domain Walls in Laboratory Experiments

We would like to design an experiment to detect the fifth force mediated by a new light scalar field that can play the role of dark matter or dark energy. There exists a previously unexplored region of parameter space in which a vacuum chamber can nullify any outside effects and thus make the effects of the fifth force detectable. A good vacuum will result in a very low density environment in which the symmetron can couple with gravitational strength, and the scalar field on a matter particle are potentially observable. Symmetron theories include a characteristic phase transition; cosmologically speaking, this transition occurs as the universe expands and cools. As the phase transition occurs, topological defects can form ("domain walls"). It is hoped that by designing and manufacturing a topologically-tailored vacuum cleaner, we can ensure that theses domain walls are long-lived by binding them to the interior of the chamber. We can then perform a particle experiment in which a matter particle is incident on a domain wall. As the matter particle approaches the domain wall, it will experience that fifth force mediated by the scalar field and will be deflected or possibly even reflected off the domain wall. This deflection or reflection is a signature of the fifth force and could constrain some previously unconstrained parts of the dark sector.