Binary pulsars as dark-matter probes

During the motion of a binary pulsar around the Galactic center, the pulsar and its companion experience a wind of dark-matter particles that can affect the orbital motion through dynamical friction. We show that this effect produces a characteristic seasonal modulation of the orbit and causes a secular change of the orbital period whose magnitude can be well within the astonishing precision of various binary-pulsar observations. Our analysis is valid for binary systems with orbital period longer than a day. By comparing this effect with pulsar-timing measurements, it is possible to derive model-independent upper bounds on the dark-matter density at different distances D from the Galactic center. For example, the precision timing of J1713+0747 imposes ρDM≲105  GeV/cm3 at D≈7  kpc. The detection of a binary pulsar at D≲10  pc could provide stringent constraints on dark-matter halo profiles and on growth models of the central black hole. The Square Kilometer Array can improve current bounds by 2 orders of magnitude, potentially constraining the local density of dark matter to unprecedented levels.