Scalar dark matter in space-based gravitational-wave detectors: center-of-mass motion, size breathing, and TDI projection

Abstract

Ultralight scalar dark matter can make space-based gravitational-wave detectors respond through both the scalar charge of freely falling test masses and scalar-induced changes of local solid length scales. Existing space-detector forecasts usually model the former as a center-of-mass force, while ground-based interferometer studies show that scalar fields can also act through material and optical-path transduction. We ask which part of a local material response survives after one-way Doppler measurements are assembled into delayed time-delay-interferometry observables. To this end, we formulate center-of-mass motion and endpoint-size breathing in a common link-response notation for LISA-, Taiji-, and TianQin-like detectors. The main result is a projection rule: in the equal-arm, identical-endpoint, common-field limit, endpoint breathing enters Michelson-$X$ as a common-mode link perturbation and is removed from the retained channel. Its leading leakage is controlled by finite scalar wave vector, unequal or time-dependent arms, nonidentical endpoint response, or auxiliary readouts, and carries extra geometric and delay suppressions beyond the local size response. We then give reproducible noise, sensitivity, and network-combination formulas, and quote multi-mission improvements only under explicit independent-stream and scalar-coherence assumptions. The result provides a controlled baseline for deciding when test-mass breathing can be neglected and when instrument-specific material response must be modeled.