Journal Article

PUBDB-2026-00409

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Pulsar Polarization Array Limits on Ultralight Axionlike Dark Matter

Xue, X.Extern* ; Dai, S. ; Luu, H. N. ; Liu, T. (Corresponding author)Extern* ; Ren, J. ; Shu, J. ; Zhao, Y. ; Zic, A. ; Bhat, N. D. R. ; Chen, Z.-C. ; Feng, Y. ; Hobbs, G. ; Kapur, A. ; Manchester, R. N. ; Mandow, R. ; Mishra, S. ; Reardon, D. J. ; Russell, C. J. ; Shannon, R. M. ; Wang, S. ; Zhang, L. ; Zhang, S. ; Zhu, X.

2026
APS College Park, Md.

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1103/mptv-3x6g  doi:10.3204/PUBDB-2026-00409

Report No.: DESY-24-100; arXiv:2412.02229

Abstract: We conduct the first-ever Pulsar Polarization Array (PPA) analysis to detect the ultralight Axion-Like Dark Matter (ALDM) using the polarization data of 22 millisecond pulsars from the third data release of Parkes Pulsar Timing Array. As one of the major dark matter candidates, the ultralight ALDM exhibits a pronounced wave nature on astronomical scales and offers a promising solution to small-scale structure issues within local galaxies. While the linearly polarized pulsar light travels through the ALDM galactic halo, its position angle (PA) can be subject to an oscillation induced by the ALDM Chern-Simons coupling with electromagnetic field. The PPA is thus especially suited for detecting the ultralight ALDM by correlating polarization data across the arrayed pulsars. To accomplish this task, we develop an advanced Bayesian analysis framework that allows us to construct pulsar PA residual time series, model noise contributions properly and search for pulsar cross-correlations. We find that for an ALDM density of $\rho_0=0.4\,\textrm{GeV}/\textrm{cm}^3$, the Parkes PPA offers the best global limits on the ALDM Chern-Simons coupling, namely $\lesssim 10^{-13.5}-10^{-12.2}~{\rm GeV}^{-1}$, for the mass range of $10^{-22} - 10^{-21}~{\rm eV}$. The crucial role of pulsar cross-correlation in recognizing the nature of the derived limits is also highlighted.

Note: 6+15 pages, 10 figures, 2 tables, submitted to the journal

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Uni Hamburg / Theorie (UNI/TH)

Research Program(s):

1. 611 - Fundamental Particles and Forces (POF4-611) (POF4-611)
2. DFG project G:(GEPRIS)390833306 - EXC 2121: Das Quantisierte Universum II (390833306) (390833306)

Experiment(s):

1. No specific instrument

Appears in the scientific report 2026

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Database coverage:
; ; ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Electronics and Telecommunications Collection ; Current Contents - Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF >= 5 ; JCR ; Nationallizenz ; SCOAP3 sponsored Journal ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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Linked articles:

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Preprint Xue, X.Extern*DESY* ; Dai, S. ; Luu, H. N. ; Liu, T. (Corresponding author)Extern* ; Ren, J. ; Shu, J. ; Zhao, Y. ; Zic, A. ; Bhat, N. D. R. ; Chen, Z.-C. ; Feng, Y. ; Hobbs, G. ; Kapur, A. ; Manchester, R. N. ; Mandow, R. ; Mishra, S. ; Reardon, D. J. ; Russell, C. J. ; Shannon, R. M. ; Wang, S. ; Zhang, L. ; Zhang, S. ; Zhu, X.
First Pulsar Polarization Array Limits on Ultralight Axion-like Dark Matter
[10.3204/PUBDB-2024-04990]     Files  Fulltext by arXiv.org BibTeX | EndNote: XML, Text | RIS

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