2024/12/12 by Sara Aliberti, Gaetano Lambiase, Aliberti, Sara Rufrano +3 · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena #Relativity and Gravitational Theory #Advanced Frequency and Time Standards
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2412.09575
Dark matter (DM) within the solar system induces deviations in the geodetic drift of gyroscope spin due to its gravitational interaction. Assuming a constant DM density as a minimal scenario, we constrain DM overdensity within the Gravity Probe B (GP-B) orbit and project limits for Earth's and Neptune's orbits around the Sun. The presence of electrons in gravitating sources and test objects introduces a scalar-mediated Yukawa potential, which can be probed using terrestrial and space--based precision clocks. We derive projected DM overdensity (η) limits from Sagnac time measurements using onboard satellite clocks, highlighting their dependence on the source mass and orbital radius. The strongest limit, η\lesssim 4.45× 103, is achieved at Neptune's orbit (∼ 30~AU), exceeding existing constraints. Correspondingly, the cosmic neutrino overdensity is bounded as ξ\lesssim 5.34× 1010, surpassing results from KATRIN and cosmic ray studies. The best limit on electrophilic scalar coupling is g\lesssim 7.09× 10-24 for scalar mass mφ\lesssim 1.32× 10-18~eV competitive with existing fifth-force bounds. These precision measurements offer a robust framework for testing gravity at solar system scales and probing DM in scenarios inaccessible to direct detection experiments.