Search for Axion Stars Using the Global Network of Optical Magnetometers for Exotic Physics (GNOME)

Light scalar fields in the form of axion stars or Q-balls are a possible candidate for dark matter. The Global Network of Optical Magnetometers for Exotic physics (GNOME) is sensitive to such compact objects via a coupling of the fields to the atomic and nuclear spins. We present an analysis method for the GNOME data that is sensitive to axion stars and Q-balls based on the excess power technique. We present preliminary results and discuss the sensitivity of such a network to this form of dark matter.