TY - JOUR
T1 - Vector Dark Matter Halo
T2 - From Polarization Dynamics to Direct Detection
AU - Chen, Jiajun
AU - Nguyen, Le Hoang
AU - Marsh, David J. E.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 American Physical Society.
PY - 2025/2/15
Y1 - 2025/2/15
N2 - This study investigates the characteristic polarization formation and evolution of vector dark matter (VDM) in the outer halo of galaxies. By employing numerical simulations, we analyze the behavior of VDM under different initial conditions - homogeneous, isotropic, and partially polarized. The simulations solve the Schrödinger-Poisson equations, examining the spin density distribution and its evolution during gravitational collapse and halo formation. Our results reveal that VDM forms halos and central Proca stars from homogeneous and isotropic conditions, with the polarization density fluctuation amplitude mirroring VDM matter density. In scenarios with no initial polarization, spin density remains stable in the halo core but fluctuates in outer regions. Partially polarized initial conditions lead to a conservation of total polarization, with increased core polarization resulting in opposite polarization in the periphery. We examine the novel consequences of the partially polarized state for direct detection of dark photons, i.e., VDM kinetically mixed with ordinary photons.
AB - This study investigates the characteristic polarization formation and evolution of vector dark matter (VDM) in the outer halo of galaxies. By employing numerical simulations, we analyze the behavior of VDM under different initial conditions - homogeneous, isotropic, and partially polarized. The simulations solve the Schrödinger-Poisson equations, examining the spin density distribution and its evolution during gravitational collapse and halo formation. Our results reveal that VDM forms halos and central Proca stars from homogeneous and isotropic conditions, with the polarization density fluctuation amplitude mirroring VDM matter density. In scenarios with no initial polarization, spin density remains stable in the halo core but fluctuates in outer regions. Partially polarized initial conditions lead to a conservation of total polarization, with increased core polarization resulting in opposite polarization in the periphery. We examine the novel consequences of the partially polarized state for direct detection of dark photons, i.e., VDM kinetically mixed with ordinary photons.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85217950929&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevD.111.043031
DO - 10.1103/PhysRevD.111.043031
M3 - Article
SN - 2470-0029
VL - 111
JO - Physical Review D
JF - Physical Review D
IS - 4
M1 - 043031
ER -