Proposed Search for a wind of Axion-like-particles using the Gravitational Wave Interferometers

TL;DR

This paper proposes using gravitational wave interferometers like LIGO to detect axion-like particles by measuring variations in the refractive index of light caused by an ALP wind, analyzing existing data for potential signals.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method to search for ALPs using existing gravitational wave data by examining refractive index variations related to Earth's motion.

Findings

Detected modulation at twice Earth's orbital frequency

Observed refractive index difference around 10^-20

Identified potential signals consistent with ALP wind effects

Abstract

If ALPs exist, the refractive index of light will be modified when light traverses a region where an ALP field is present. We propose to measure the refractive index of light and its angular dependence as the Earth rotates with respect to the direction of the ALP wind. The LIGO Interferometers are sensitive to differences in the refractive index of the light circulating in the two arms, and such differences were recorded during the S5 run, February 2006 to July 2007. They are due in part to the horizontal tidal gradients when they are aligned with one of the arms. In addition a very strong modulation was observed at twice the Earth's orbital frequency as can be seen in Fig.1. This can be understood if the difference in the refractive index between the two arms depends on the angle between the light propagation vector and the direction of the ALP wind. We present the data as a function of the Earth's motion, and discuss the magnitude of the observed refractive index, n-1 ~ 10e-20.