GPS.ELF: Search for exotic low-mass field emission from the binary neutron star merger (GW170817) using GPS atomic clocks

Exotic bosonic fields are viable dark matter candidates, and they appear as potential solutions to the strong-CP and hierarchy problems. Such fields can be potentially emitted from powerful astrophysical events, such as binary neutron star and binary black hole mergers. This leads to an intriguing possibility for a novel, exotic physics, modality in multi-messenger astronomy [Nature Astronomy 5, 150 (2021)]. We present the progress of our search for such feebly interacting exotic low-mass field. As these bosonic fields interact feebly with the standard model particles and fields, precision quantum sensors are an ideal candidate for its detection. We use the data from atomic clocks of the Global Positioning System. The search is carried out by comparing the clock excess noise before and after the LIGO gravitational wave trigger. Our search focuses on the August 17, 2017 GW170817 binary neutron star merger event.