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Universal Profile for Cosmic Birefringence Tomography with Radio Galaxies
1The University of Tokyo, Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan and Research Center for the Early Universe, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
Physical Review Letters
|February 16, 2026
Summary
We propose a new method to probe cosmic birefringence using radio galaxies. This technique can distinguish between dark energy and dark matter origins for this phenomenon.
Area of Science:
- Cosmology
- Astrophysics
- Particle Physics
Background:
- Cosmic birefringence, a rotation of the polarization of light propagating through the universe, is a predicted phenomenon in some beyond-Standard-Model theories.
- Pseudoscalar fields are theoretical candidates for both dark energy and dark matter, and their interactions could induce cosmic birefringence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel tomographic method for probing cosmic birefringence using radio galaxies.
- To differentiate between the birefringence signatures produced by a dynamical dark energy pseudoscalar field versus a dark matter-like pseudoscalar field.
Main Methods:
- Analyzing the redshift evolution of the cosmic birefringence angle.
- Utilizing polarized radio galaxies as tomographic probes.
- Simulating birefringence profiles for different pseudoscalar field models.
Main Results:
- The redshift evolution of cosmic birefringence induced by a slow-rolling pseudoscalar field (dark energy candidate) exhibits a universal profile, predominantly evolving at redshifts z≲10.
- Birefringence induced by a dark matter-like pseudoscalar field is generally negligible at low redshifts.
- Distinguishing these two profiles requires a sample size of approximately 10^5–10^6 radio galaxies.
Conclusions:
- The proposed method offers a new way to test cosmic birefringence independently.
- Observational data from upcoming radio surveys like ASKAP and SKA could potentially distinguish between dark energy and dark matter origins of cosmic birefringence.
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