Artificial Precision Polarization Array: Sensitivity for the axion-like dark matter with clock satellites

TL;DR

The paper proposes a satellite network called Artificial Pulsar Polarization Arrays (APPA) to improve sensitivity in detecting axion-like dark matter signals, outperforming ground-based methods in certain mass ranges.

Contribution

Introduction of APPA, a satellite-based array, and analysis showing its enhanced sensitivity for axion detection compared to traditional ground observations.

Findings

APPA provides tighter upper limits on axion-photon coupling for $10^{-22}-10^{-18}$ eV.

Simulations show APPA's superior detection sensitivity over ground-based methods.

Larger satellite network scales improve detection of lighter axion masses.

Abstract

The approaches to searching for axion-like signals based on pulsars include observations with pulsar timing arrays (PTAs) and pulsar polarization arrays (PPAs). However, these methods are limited by observational uncertainties arising from multiple unknown and periodic physical effects, which substantially complicate subsequent data analysis. To mitigate these issues and improve data fidelity, we propose the Artificial Pulsar Polarization Arrays (APPA): a satellite network comprising multiple pulsed signal transmitters and a dedicated receiver satellite. To constrain the axion-photon coupling parameter $g_{a\gamma}$, we generate simulated observations using Monte Carlo methods and investigate the sensitivity of APPA using two complementary approaches: Likelihood analysis and frequentist analysis. Simulations indicate that for the axion mass range of $10^{-22}-10^{-18}$ eV, APPA yields a tighter upper limit on $g_{a\gamma}$ (at the 95\% C.L.) than conventional ground-based observations, while also achieving superior detection sensitivity. Moreover, a larger spatial distribution scale of the satellite network corresponds to a greater advantage in detecting axions with lighter masses.