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Register a new userAxion-like particles: possible hints and constraints from the high-energy Universe
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Pierre Brun
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The high-energy Universe is potentially a great laboratory for searching new light bosons such as axion-like particles (ALPs). Cosmic sources are indeed the scene of violent phenomena that involve strong magnetic field and/or very long baselines, where the effects of the mixing of photons with ALPs could lead to observable effects. Two examples are archetypal of this fact, that are the Universe opacity to gamma-rays and the imprints of astrophysical magnetic turbulence in the energy spectra of high-energy sources. In the first case, hints for the existence of ALPs can be proposed whereas the second one is used to put constraints on the ALP mass and coupling to photons.
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It has been recently claimed by two different groups that the spectral modulation observed in gamma rays from Galactic pulsars and supernova remnants can be due to conversion of photons into ultra-light axion-like-particles (ALPs) in large-scale Galactic magnetic fields. While we show the required best-fit photon-ALP coupling, $g_{agamma} sim 2 times 10^{-10}$ GeV${}^{-1}$, to be consistent with constraints from observations of photon-ALPs mixing in vacuum, this is in conflict with other bounds, specifically from the CAST solar axion limit, from the helium-burning lifetime in globular clusters, and from the non-observations of gamma rays in coincidence with SN 1987A. In order to reconcile these different results, we propose that environmental effects in matter would suppress the ALP production in dense astrophysical plasma, allowing to relax previous bounds and make them compatible with photon-ALP
We consider a cosmological scenario in which the very early Universe experienced a transient epoch of matter domination due to the formation of a large population of primordial black holes (PBHs) with masses $M lesssim 10^{9},textrm{g}$, that evaporate before Big Bang nucleosynthesis. In this context, Hawking radiation would be a non-thermal mechanism to produce a cosmic background of axion-like particles (ALPs). We assume the minimal scenario in which these ALPs couple only with photons. In the case of ultralight ALPs ($m_a lesssim 10^{-9},textrm{eV}$) the cosmic magnetic fields might trigger ALP-photon
Axion-like particles with masses in the keV-GeV range have a profound impact on the cosmological evolution of our Universe, in particular on the abundance of light elements produced during Big Bang Nucleosynthesis. The resulting limits are complementary to searches in the laboratory and provide valuable additional information regarding the validity of a given point in parameter space. A potential drawback is that altering the cosmological history may potentially weaken or even fully invalidate these bounds. The main objective of this article is therefore to evaluate the robustness of cosmological constraints on axion-like particles in the keV-GeV region, allowing for various additional effects which may weaken the bounds of the standard scenario. Employing the latest determinations of the primordial abundances as well as information from the cosmic microwave background we find that while bounds can indeed be weakened, very relevant robust constraints remain.
Axion-Like Particles (ALPs) are predicted by several Beyond the Standard Model theories, in particular, string theory. In the presence of an external magnetic field perpendicular to the direction of propagation, ALPs can couple to photons. Therefore, if an X-ray source is viewed through a magnetised plasma, such as a luminous quasar in a galaxy cluster, we may expect spectral distortions that are well described by photon-ALP oscillations. We present a $571 mathrm{ks}$ combined High and Low Energy Transmission Grating (HETG/LETG) Chandra observation of the powerful radio-quiet quasar H1821+643, hosted by a cool-core cluster at redshift $0.3$. The spectrum is well described by a double power-law continuum and broad$+$narrow iron line emission typical of type-1 Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN), with remaining spectral features $< 2.5%$. Using a cell-based approach to describe the turbulent cluster magnetic field, we compare our spectrum with photon-ALP mixing curves for 500 field realisations assuming that the thermal-to-magnetic pressure ratio remains constant up to the virial radius. At $99.7%$ credibility, we exclude all couplings $g_mathrm{agamma} > 6.3 times 10^{-13} {mathrm{GeV}}^{-1}$ for most ALP masses $< 10^{-12} mathrm{eV}$. Our results are moderately more sensitive to constraining ALPs than the best previous result from Chandra observations of the Perseus cluster, albeit with a less constrained field model. We provide the best constraints on light ALPs, exceeding the projected sensitivity of next generation axion helioscopes. We reflect on the promising future of ALP studies with bright AGN embedded in rich clusters, especially with the upcoming Athena mission.
Axion Like Particles (ALPs) are predicted to couple with photons in the presence of magnetic fields. This effect may lead to a significant change in the observed spectra of gamma-ray sources such as AGNs. Here we carry out a detailed study that for the first time simultaneously considers in the same framework both the photon/axion mixing that takes place in the gamma-ray source and that one expected to occur in the intergalactic magnetic fields. An efficient photon/axion mixing in the source always means an attenuation in the photon flux, whereas the mixing in the intergalactic medium may result in a decrement and/or enhancement of the photon flux, depending on the distance of the source and the energy considered. Interestingly, we find that decreasing the value of the intergalactic magnetic field strength, which decreases the probability for photon/axion mixing, could result in an increase of the expected photon flux at Earth if the source is far enough. We also find a 30% attenuation in the intensity spectrum of distant sources, which occurs at an energy that only depends on the properties of the ALPs and the intensity of the intergalactic magnetic field, and thus independent of the AGN source being observed. Moreover, we show that this mechanism can easily explain recent puzzles in the spectra of distant gamma-ray sources... [ABRIDGED] The consequences that come from this work are testable with the current generation of gamma-ray instruments, namely Fermi (formerly known as GLAST) and imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes like CANGAROO, HESS, MAGIC and VERITAS.
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