Low-frequency radio telescopes sensitivity to light dark matter

2025/11/18 by Zatini, Ruben, Calore, Francesca, Serpico, Pasquale Dario
Physics and Astronomy · #Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena #Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena #Radio Astronomy Observations and Technology

paper · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2511.14845

Abstract

Ground-based radio telescopes are routinely used to search for light dark matter (DM) candidates such as axion-like particles or dark photons. These instruments face however inherent limitations to push the searches to masses below 10^-7 eV, due to the effect of the Earth's ionosphere. The extant and planned space- or Moon-based radio telescopes motivate this study: We systematically investigate their sensitivity to resonant conversion of light DM into radio signals from three solar system targets: the Sun, the Earth, and Jupiter. The perspectives are especially encouraging for dark photon searches using the Sun as a target, and for axion-like particles conversion in Jupiter's magnetosphere.

Citations

• The Dark Ages Explorer (DEX): a filled-aperture ultra-long wavelength radio interferometer on the lunar far side
• Status and Perspectives on Axion Searches
• Resonant Conversion of Wave Dark Matter in the Ionosphere
• In Situ Measurements of Dark Photon Dark Matter Using Parker Solar Probe: Going beyond the Radio Window
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• Dark photon limits: A handbook
• Low Radio Frequency Observations from the Moon Enabled by NASA Landed Payload Missions
• The FIELDS Instrument Suite for Solar Probe Plus
• Tracing the Electron Density from the Corona to 1 au

Related

• The Sun as a target for axion dark matter detection
• Dark Photon Dark Matter Radio Signal from the Milky Way Electron Density
• The gravitational wave and radio signals of ultralight dark matter
• Searching for Axion Dark Matter using Radio Telescopes
• Dark Photons in the Radio Sky: I. Resonant Conversions in Halos