Dark-Matter-Induced Weak Equivalence Principle Violation

TL;DR

This paper investigates how a long-range force linked to dark matter could cause violations of the Weak Equivalence Principle, analyzing constraints from astrophysics and experiments, and exploring implications for dark matter models.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive analysis of constraints on dark-matter-induced equivalence principle violations from astrophysical and laboratory data, and relates dark matter couplings to observable effects.

Findings

Galactic dynamics impose the strongest current constraints.

Eotvos experiments can further probe the parameter space.

Relations between dark matter and ordinary matter couplings are derived.

Abstract

A long-range fifth force coupled to dark matter can induce a coupling to ordinary matter if the dark matter interacts with Standard Model fields. We consider constraints on such a scenario from both astrophysical observations and laboratory experiments. We also examine the case where the dark matter is a weakly interacting massive particle, and derive relations between the coupling to dark matter and the coupling to ordinary matter for different models. Currently, this scenario is most tightly constrained by galactic dynamics, but improvements in Eotvos experiments can probe unconstrained regions of parameter space.