Low-frequency radio telescopes sensitivity to light dark matter

TL;DR

This paper evaluates the potential of ground-based and space-based radio telescopes to detect light dark matter particles, focusing on their sensitivity limitations and prospects for signals from the Sun, Earth, and Jupiter.

Contribution

It systematically investigates the sensitivity of various radio telescopes to light dark matter conversion signals from multiple solar system targets.

Findings

Space- and Moon-based telescopes could improve detection prospects for light dark matter.

The Sun is a promising target for dark photon detection.

Jupiter's magnetosphere offers potential for axion-like particle searches.

Abstract

Ground-based radio telescopes are routinely used to search for light dark matter (DM) candidates such as axion-like particles or dark photons. These instruments face however inherent limitations to push the searches to masses below $10^{-7}$ eV, due to the effect of the Earth's ionosphere. The extant and planned space- or Moon-based radio telescopes motivate this study: We systematically investigate their sensitivity to resonant conversion of light DM into radio signals from three solar system targets: the Sun, the Earth, and Jupiter. The perspectives are especially encouraging for dark photon searches using the Sun as a target, and for axion-like particles conversion in Jupiter's magnetosphere.