Work

Intrinsically Quantum Effects of Axion Dark Matter Are Undetectable

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Is the usual treatment of axion dark matter as a classical field reliable? We show that the answer is subtle: the axion field could well be in a quantum state that has no complete classical description, but realistic detectors cannot tell the difference. To see this, we solve a fully quantum model of axion detection using quantum optics techniques. We show that intrinsically quantum effects are washed out by mode averaging or small amounts of noise, and significantly suppressed by the weakness of the axion coupling. Our Letter exemplifies that there should always be a classical analog for axion dark matter effects, extends to other wave (ultralight) dark-matter candidates, and gives a general method to compute the effects of exotic dark-matter states.

Source: Physical Review Letters

DOI: 10.1103/9mff-p5k6

Authors: Yunjia Bao, Dhong Yeon Cheong, Nicholas L. Rodd, Joey Takach, Lian-Tao Wang, Kevin Zhou

Institutions: University of Chicago, Yonsei University, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley

Language: English

Topic: Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena

Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,750