replying to Y. Stadnik Nature Astronomy https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-024-02245-4 (2024)

Recently, along with a team of collaborators, we proposed that quantum sensor networks could be used for a multi-messenger astronomy in a new exotic physics modality¹; that is, a search for signals from high-energy astrophysical events that produce intense bursts of exotic low-mass fields (ELFs) associated with beyond-the-standard-model physics. The Matters Arising by Stadnik² claims that ‘back-action’ effects (that is, the interaction of ELFs with ordinary matter) “prevent multi-messenger astronomy on human timescales”. We disagree with this claim: this is not a general conclusion, as this statement relies entirely on a specific sign of the ELF–matter interaction. While we do not fundamentally disagree with Stadnik’s point that back-action effects can be important in some cases, it is crucial for this nascent research direction to emphasize that back-action effects do not universally preclude the possibility of ELF observation with quantum sensor networks. Below we present our counter-argument, which in fact demonstrates that there remains a large parameter space for detecting ELFs.

回复Y. Stadnik自然天文学https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-024-02245-4 (2024)

最近，我们与一个合作者团队一起提出，量子传感器网络可以用于一种新的奇异物理模态中的多信使天文学¹；也就是说，寻找来自高能天体物理事件的信号，这些事件会产生与超标准模型物理相关的奇异低质量场（ELF）的强烈爆发。 Stadnik ²的《The Matters Arising 》声称“反作用”效应（即 ELF 与普通物质的相互作用）“阻止了人类时间尺度上的多信使天文学”。我们不同意这种说法：这不是一个普遍的结论，因为这种说法完全依赖于 ELF-物质相互作用的特定迹象。虽然我们从根本上不同意斯塔德尼克的观点，即反作用效应在某些情况下可能很重要，但对于这个新兴的研究方向来说，强调反作用效应并不普遍排除使用量子传感器网络进行 ELF 观测的可能性至关重要。下面我们提出我们的反论点，这实际上表明仍然存在很大的参数空间来检测 ELF。