Journal Article

PUBDB-2026-00955

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Detecting ultralight dark matter with matter effect

Gan, X. (Corresponding author) ; Liu, D. ; Liu, D. ; Luo, X. ; Yu, B.

2026
Springer Heidelberg

This record in other databases:    

Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1007/JHEP02(2026)043

Report No.: DESY-25-060; arXiv:2504.11522

Abstract: Ultralight particles, with a mass below the electronvolt scale, exhibit wave-like behavior and have arisen as a compelling dark matter candidate. A particularly intriguing subclass is scalar dark matter, which induces variations in fundamental physical constants. However, detecting such particles becomes highly challenging in the mass range above 10$^{−6}$ eV, as traditional experiments face severe limitations in response time. In contrast, the matter effect becomes significant in a vast and unexplored parameter space. These effects include (i) a force arising from scattering between ordinary matter and the dark matter wind and (ii) a fifth force between ordinary matter induced by the dark matter background. Using the repulsive quadratic scalar-photon interaction as a case study, we develop a unified framework based on quantum mechanical scattering theory to systematically investigate these phenomena across both perturbative and non-perturbative regimes. Our approach not only reproduces prior results obtained through other methodologies but also covers novel regimes with nontrivial features, such as decoherence effects, screening effects, and their combinations. In particular, we highlight one finding related to both scattering and background-induced forces: the descreening effect observed in the non-perturbative region with large incident momentum, which alleviates the decoherence suppression. Furthermore, we discuss current and proposed experiments, including inverse-square-law tests, equivalence principle tests, and deep-space acceleration measurements. Notably, we go beyond the spherical approximation and revisit the MICROSCOPE constraint on the background-induced force in the large-momentum regime, where the decoherence and screening effects interplay. The ultraviolet models realizing the quadratic scalar-photon interaction are also discussed.

Keyword(s): New Light Particles ; Models for Dark Matter

Note: JHEP 02 (2026) 043. v2, 70 pages, 7 appendices, 22 figures; Figs. 9 and 21 added for completeness, minor improvements to the text, references added, results and conclusions unchanged; matches the JHEP version

---

Contributing Institute(s):

1. Theorie-Gruppe (T)

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

---

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

---