OSIRIS-REx constraints on local dark matter and cosmic neutrino profiles

Journal Article · 20 February 2024 · Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1475-7516/2024/02/029 · OSTI ID:1893712

Tsai, Yu-Dai  ^[1]; Eby, Joshua  ^[2]; Arakawa, Jason ^[3]; Farnocchia, Davide  ^[4]; Safronova, Marianna S.  ^[5]

---

1. University of California, Irvine, CA (United States); Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)
2. University of Tokyo (Japan). Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (WPI)
3. University of Delaware, Newark, DE (United States); University of California, Irvine, CA (United States)
4. California Institute of Technology (CalTech), Pasadena, CA (United States). Jet Propulsion Lab. (JPL)
5. University of Delaware, Newark, DE (United States); University of Maryland, College Park, MD (United States); National Inst. of Standards and Technology (NIST), College Park MD (United States)

We derive purely gravitational constraints on dark matter and cosmic neutrino profiles in the solar system using asteroid (101955) Bennu. We focus on Bennu because of its extensive tracking data and high-fidelity trajectory modeling resulting from the OSIRIS-REx mission. We find that the local density of dark matter is bound by $$ρ_{DM}$$ ≲ 3.3 × 10^-15 kg/m³ ≃ 6 × 10⁶ $$\bar{ρ_{DM}}$$, in the vicinity of ~ 1.1 au (where $$\bar{ρ_{DM}}$$ ≃ 0.3 GeV/cm³). We show that high-precision tracking data of solar system objects can constrain cosmic neutrino overdensities relative to the Standard Model prediction n̅ν, at the level of η ≡ nν/n̅ν ≲ 1.7 × 10¹¹(0.1 eV/m_ν) (Saturn), comparable to the existing bounds from KATRIN and other previous laboratory experiments (with m_ν the neutrino mass). These local bounds have interesting implications for existing and future direct-detection experiments. Our constraints apply to all dark matter candidates but are particularly meaningful for scenarios including solar halos, stellar basins, and axion miniclusters, which predict overdensities in the solar system. Furthermore, introducing a DM-SM long-range fifth force with a strength tilde alphaDtimes stronger than gravity, Bennu can set a constraint on ρDM ≲ $$\bar{ρ_{DM}}$$(6 × 10⁶/$$_{\tilde{αD}}$$). These constraints can be improved in the future as the accuracy of tracking data improves, observational arcs increase, and more missions visit asteroids.

• Research Organization: Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP); National Science Foundation (NSF); World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI); Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS); National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC02-07CH11359; FG02-00ER41132
• OSTI ID: 1893712
• Report Number(s): UCI-HEP-TR--2022-11; FERMILAB-PUB--22-753-T-V; arXiv:2210.03749; oai:inspirehep.net:2163272
• Journal Information: Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics Journal Issue: 02 Vol. 2024; ISSN 1475-7516
• Publisher: Institute of Physics (IOP)Copyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English