Axion quark nuggets and how a global network can discover them

Abstract

We advocate an idea that the presence of the daily and annual modulations of the axion flux on the Earths surface may dramatically change the strategy of the axion searches. Our computations are based on the so-called Axion Quark Nugget (AQN) dark matter model which was originally put forward to explain the similarity of the dark and visible cosmological matter densities Ω dark ∼ Ω visible . In our framework, the population of galactic axions with mass 10 −6 eV ma 10 −3 eV and velocity va ∼ 10 −3 c will be always accompanied by the axions with typical velocities va ∼ 0.6c emitted by AQNs. We formulate the broadband detection strategy to search for such relativistic axions by studying the daily and annual modulations. We describe several tests which could effectively discriminate a true signal from noise. These AQN-originated axions can be observed as correlated events which could be recorded by synchronized stations in the global network. The correlations can be effectively studied if the detectors are positioned at distances shorter than a few hundred kilometres.

Infrasonic, Acoustic and Seismic Waves Produced by the Axion Quark Nuggets

“…We discuss one of the possibilities to separate the signal from a much larger noise below. The main point is that the AQN signal must show the annual (29) and daily (30) modulations characteristic of the dark matter galactic wind, in contrast with much more numerous and much more intense random events.…”

“…This very high sensitivity indicates that the main problem here is the separation of the AQN signal from the seismic noise. One of possibilities to separate the signal from a much larger noise was suggested in [30].…”

Rare Events Detected with a Bulk Acoustic Wave High Frequency Gravitational Wave Antenna

“…(8) dark matter. Other types of dark matter including composite candidates capable of producing single events in mechanical oscillators or phonons in crystals; (9) axion quark nuggets [47] are claimed to be able to produce seismic and acoustic waves in planet's atmosphere [48] as well as explain sum other anomalies such as Sun's corona anomaly [49] and DAMA/LIBRA results [50] as well as others. The axion quark nugget events described in the work with the alleged detection [48] can be ruled out based on the same points as for atmospheric meteor events.…”

Precision Measurement Noise Asymmetry and Its Annual Modulation as a Dark Matter Signature

“…Encounters with such objects may leave transient signals in measurement device data [11,12]. Examples of "clumpy" DM models include Q-balls [13][14][15][16], Bose stars [17][18][19], topological defects [20][21][22], axion quark nuggets [23][24][25] and "dark blobs" [26].…”

“…A general challenge with searching for transient signals is that they are difficult to distinguish from conventional noise. One approach [11,31] is to use a network of devices, and search for the correlated propagation of transients that sweep through the network at galactic velocities, v g ∼ 300 km/s (see also [24,[32][33][34][35][36]). However, objects of spatial extent smaller than the network node separation would not produce such a signature.…”