First search for ultralight dark matter with a space-based gravitational-wave antenna: LISA Pathfinder

Abstract

We present here results from the first-ever search for dark-photon dark matter that could have coupled to baryons in LISA Pathfinder, the technology demonstrator for a space-based gravitational-wave antenna. After analyzing approximately three months of data taken by LISA Pathfinder in the frequency range $[2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}5},5]\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{Hz}$, corresponding to dark-photon masses of $[8\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}20},2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}14}]\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{eV}/{c}^{2}$, we find no evidence of a dark-matter signal and set upper limits on the strength of the dark-photon/baryon coupling. To perform this search, we leveraged methods that search for quasimonochromatic gravitational-wave signals in ground-based interferometers and are robust against non-Gaussianities and gaps in the data. Our work therefore represents a proof-of-concept test of search methods in LISA to find persistent, quasimonochromatic signals and shows our ability to handle non-Gaussian artifacts and gaps while maintaining good sensitivity compared to the optimal matched filter. The results also indicate that these methods can be powerful tools in LISA to not only find dark matter, but also look for other persistent signals from, e.g., intermediate-mass black hole inspirals and galactic white dwarf binaries.