GBT19A-362

Detecting axion dark matter at the Green Bank Telescope

Abstract

We propose a search for narrow emission lines that will provide the first evidence of axion dark matter (DM). The axion is one of the best-motivated particle DM candidates, and discovering this particle is a priority of the worldwide particle physics program. It was recently pointed out that axion DM may cause neutron stars (NSs) to radiate narrow radio lines at a unique and universal frequency determined by the particle mass. We will search for evidence of such lines in the L-band with a ensemble of short observations towards: the Galactic Center of the Milky Way, the globular cluster M54, M31, and three nearby X-ray dim isolated NSs (XDINSs). Depending on the target, the predicted relative linewidth is expected to vary between 1e-6 and 1e-3, with unique frequency structure that could help differentiate a potential signal from background. The signals from the XDINSs should also be pulsed. With the modest requested time, it is possible that we could find the first evidence for particle DM. More likely, we will set some of the strongest constraints to-date on the existence of axion DM, which will help inform future laboratory experiments and pave the way towards deeper and broader follow-up surveys.

Investigators

Name	Institution
Vlad Kondratiev	Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy
Yonatan Kahn	Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of
Wendy Lane	Naval Research Laboratory
Ralph Eatough	Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie
Christoph Weniger	Amsterdam, Universiteit van
Mauro Valli	Roma La Sapienza, Università degli Studi di
Benjamin Safdi *	Michigan at Ann Arbor, University of
Anson Hook	Maryland, University of

* indicates the PI