Topic: Dark Photon Dark Matter Detection with Radio Telescopes: From Local Absorption to Solar Observations

Speaker: Prof. Jia Liu

Coordinates: PCFT C1124, 14:00, Friday, Apr. 21

Abstract: We propose using radio telescopes to explore the conversion of dark photons, a potential ultralight dark matter candidate, through both solar observations and the telescopes themselves. The local absorption of dark photon dark matter can induce harmonic oscillations of electrons inside radio telescopes, resulting in a monochromatic radio signal that receivers can detect. The FAST telescope has already achieved an upper limit on kinetic mixing of $10^{-12}$ for DPDM oscillation frequencies at $1-1.5$ GHz, which is stronger than the cosmic microwave background constraint. LOFAR and SKA1 telescopes can achieve extraordinary sensitivities for direct DPDM search from 10 MHz to 10 GHz. Additionally, due to the strong resonant conversion, the solar corona provides an ideal location for observing dark photon conversion. Using observational data, the LOFAR telescope can reach a kinetic mixing of $\epsilon \sim 10^{-13}$ in the frequency range of $30-80$ MHz, which exceeds the cosmic microwave background constraint.