Solar-System experiments in the search for dark energy and dark matter
Phys. Rev. D 112, 123003 – Published 1 December, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/cmwl-xnhz
Abstract
We reassess the realistic discovery reach of Solar-System experiments for dark energy (DE) and dark matter (DM), making explicit the bridge from cosmology-level linear responses to local, screened residuals. In scalar-tensor frameworks with a universal conformal coupling and chameleon/Vainshtein screening, we map cosmological responses inferred by DESI and Euclid to thin-shell or Vainshtein residuals in deep Solar potentials . We emphasize a two-branch strategy. In a detection-first branch, a verified local anomaly—an Einstein equivalence principle (EEP) violation, a Shapiro-delay signal with , an AU-scale Yukawa tail, or a narrowband ultralight DM (ULDM) line in clocks/atom interferometers in space (AIS)—triggers a joint refit of cosmology and Solar-System data under a common microphysical parameterization . In a guardrail branch, Solar-System tests enforce universal constraints (EEP; PPN parameters , ; and ) and close unscreened or weakly screened corners indicated by cosmology. Under realistic near-term conditions we forecast, per conjunction, (Ka-/X-band or optical Shapiro), (drag-free AIS), [sub-mm-class lunar laser ranging (LLR)], a uniform tightening of AU-scale Yukawa/DM-density bounds, and improved ULDM-coupling reach from clock networks. For a conformal benchmark, implies and a Sun thin shell at ; Vainshtein screening at 1 AU yields , naturally below near-term reach. We recommend a cost-effective portfolio with explicit triggers for escalation to dedicated missions.