Constraints on fifth forces and ultralight dark matter from OSIRIS-REx target asteroid Bennu

TL;DR

This paper uses data from the OSIRIS-REx mission to set new constraints on fifth forces and ultralight dark matter, especially for specific mediator masses, highlighting asteroid tracking as a valuable tool for probing physics beyond the Standard Model.

Contribution

It provides the strongest bounds to date on certain ultralight dark matter and fifth force models using asteroid tracking data, extending the reach of current constraints.

Findings

Tightest bounds for mediator masses around 10^{-18} - 10^{-17} eV.

Constraints applicable to U(1)_B dark photons and baryon-coupled scalars.

Demonstrates asteroid tracking as a novel probe for new physics.

Abstract

Using the OSIRIS-REx mission and ground-based tracking data for the asteroid Bennu, we derive new constraints on fifth forces and ultralight dark matter. The bounds we obtain are strongest for mediator masses $m \sim 10^{-18} - 10^{-17}\,{\rm eV}$, where we currently achieve the tightest bounds. Our limits can be translated to a wide class of models leading to Yukawa-type fifth forces, and we demonstrate how they apply to $U(1)_B$ dark photons and baryon-coupled scalars. Our results demonstrate the potential of asteroid tracking in probing well-motivated extensions of the Standard Model and ultralight dark matter satisfying the fuzzy dark matter constraints.