Signature of polarized ultralight vector dark matter in pulsar timing arrays

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Nomura, Kimihiro, Omiya, Hidetoshi, Tanaka, Takahiro
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Nomura, Kimihiro
Omiya, Hidetoshi
Tanaka, Takahiro
author_facet Nomura, Kimihiro
Omiya, Hidetoshi
Tanaka, Takahiro
contents We investigate observational signatures of ultralight vector dark matter with masses $m \sim 10^{-24}$-$10^{-22}$ eV in pulsar timing arrays, taking into account general polarization states of the vector field. We find that vector dark matter induces pulsar timing residuals with nontrivial directional dependence, reflecting the anisotropic property and polarization structure specific to vector dark matter, unlike scalar dark matter. We also derive angular correlation curves of the timing residuals. Intriguingly, circular polarization of the vector dark matter enhances the quadrupole nature of the correlation curve, resulting in a more notable bending of the Hellings-Downs curve. The derived correlation curves offer a useful means to distinguish gravitational wave and dark matter contributions and to probe the nature of dark matter.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2508_07358
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Signature of polarized ultralight vector dark matter in pulsar timing arrays
Nomura, Kimihiro
Omiya, Hidetoshi
Tanaka, Takahiro
Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
High Energy Physics - Phenomenology
We investigate observational signatures of ultralight vector dark matter with masses $m \sim 10^{-24}$-$10^{-22}$ eV in pulsar timing arrays, taking into account general polarization states of the vector field. We find that vector dark matter induces pulsar timing residuals with nontrivial directional dependence, reflecting the anisotropic property and polarization structure specific to vector dark matter, unlike scalar dark matter. We also derive angular correlation curves of the timing residuals. Intriguingly, circular polarization of the vector dark matter enhances the quadrupole nature of the correlation curve, resulting in a more notable bending of the Hellings-Downs curve. The derived correlation curves offer a useful means to distinguish gravitational wave and dark matter contributions and to probe the nature of dark matter.
title Signature of polarized ultralight vector dark matter in pulsar timing arrays
topic Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
High Energy Physics - Phenomenology
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.07358