Direct Multimodel Dark Matter Search with Gravitational-Wave Interferometers Using Data from the First Part of the Fourth LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA Observing Run

We present a search of data from the first part of the fourth observing run of LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA for three kinds of dark matter-dilatons (spin-0), dark photons (spin-1), and tensor bosons (spin-2)-using three independent methods, each extended to search for all three candidates. Each dark matter candidate could interact with different standard-model particles in the instruments, causing unique differential strains on the interferometers. While we do not find any evidence for a signal, we place the most stringent upper limits to date on the couplings of each dark matter model to the interferometers. For scalars with masses between [4×10⁻¹⁴,1.5×10⁻¹³] eV that couple to photons or electrons, our constraints on the scalar-to-electron or photon coupling improve upon those from the third observing run by 1 order of magnitude, with the tightest limit of ∼10⁻²⁰ GeV⁻¹ at a mass of ∼2×10⁻¹³ eV. For vectors with masses between [7×10⁻¹³,8.47×10⁻¹²] eV that couple to baryons, our constraints on the dark-photon or baryon coupling supersede those from MICROSCOPE and Eöt-Wash by 1 to 2 orders of magnitude, reaching a minimum of ∼5×10⁻²⁴ at a mass of ∼10⁻¹² eV. For tensors with masses of [4×10⁻¹⁴,8.47×10⁻¹²] eV (the full mass range analyzed) that couple via a Yukawa interaction, our constraints, which are the first obtained from gravitational-wave interferometers, surpass those from fifth-force experiments by 4 to 5 orders of magnitude, achieving a limit as low as ∼8×10⁻⁹ at ∼2×10⁻¹³ eV. Our results show that each method has substantially different sensitivity to each dark matter candidate, highlighting the importance of a multimethod approach to search for new physics. Moreover, they demonstrate that gravitational-wave interferometers can simultaneously probe multiple ultralight dark matter models and place unprecedented constraints on tensor fields arising in a broad range of modified-gravity theories.