Characterizing the quantum properties of ultralight dark matter -- an open quantum systems approach

TL;DR

This paper develops an open quantum systems framework to analyze ultralight bosonic dark matter, offering new insights into its quantum properties and potential detection methods using quantum optics techniques.

Contribution

It introduces a quantum approach to characterize ultralight dark matter, bridging quantum optics and cosmology for improved detection strategies.

Findings

Quantum coherence properties of UBDM fields analyzed

Implications for detecting signatures of cosmological origins

Potential to develop novel astrophysical measurement techniques

Abstract

Obtaining insight into the constituents of dark matter and their interactions with normal matter has inspired a wide range of experimental efforts. Several approaches, particularly those involving searches for ultralight bosonic dark matter (UBDM) fields, involve the use of quantum systems or measurements performed at the limits imposed by quantum mechanics. While a classical treatment of UBDM and its detectors is satisfactory, a fully quantum description would assist in developing future detection strategies. Here, we present an open quantum systems approach that accomplishes this while providing intuition into the quantum nature of the detection process itself. Furthermore, we apply the quantum theory of optical coherence to characterize the statistical properties of the UBDM field. Using representative examples, we show that this theoretical treatment has implications in uncovering signatures of the cosmological production mechanism of the UBDM field and its galactic merger history. By adapting tools from quantum optics, this work will help facilitate the creation of novel methods to extract astrophysically relevant information from correlation measurements.