# Extracting dark matter signatures from atomic clock stability measurements

## TL;DR

This paper investigates how dark matter, in the form of ultralight scalar waves or topological defects, could influence atomic clock stability, proposing methods to detect such effects and setting new constraints on dark matter properties.

## Contribution

It identifies dark matter signatures in atomic clock data and estimates the potential of future space-based clocks to constrain dark matter models.

## Key findings

- Existing data constrains dilaton dark matter for masses > 10^{-15} eV.
- Future space clocks could detect or limit topological dark matter in the 10^{-10} to 10^{-6} eV range.
- Proposed signatures in Allan deviation plots can be used to identify dark matter effects.

## Abstract

We analyze possible effects of the dark matter environment on the atomic clock stability measurements. The dark matter is assumed to exist in a form of waves of ultralight scalar fields or in a form of topological defects (monopoles and strings). We identify dark matter signal signatures in clock Allan deviation plots that can be used to constrain the dark matter coupling to the Standard Model fields. The existing data on the Al+/Hg+ clock comparison are used to put new limits on the dilaton dark matter in the region of masses m > 10^{-15} eV. We also estimate the sensitivities of future atomic clock experiments in space, including the cesium microwave and strontium optical clocks aboard the International Space Station, as well as a potential nuclear clock. These experiments are expected to put new limits on the topological dark matter in the range of masses 10^{-10} eV < m < 10^{-6} eV.