Axions produced in supernovae generate a diffuse gamma-ray signal through conversion in magnetic fields, yielding competitive constraints on the axion-photon coupling from COMPTEL, EGRET, and Fermi-LAT data plus forecasts for future MeV telescopes.
hub Canonical reference
Revisiting the SN1987A gamma-ray limit on ultralight axion-like particles
Canonical reference. 80% of citing Pith papers cite this work as background.
12
Pith papers citing it
Background
80% of classified citations
abstract
We revise the bound from the supernova SN1987A on the coupling of ultralight axion-like particles (ALPs) to photons. In a core-collapse supernova, ALPs would be emitted via the Primakoff process, and eventually convert into gamma rays in the magnetic field of the Milky Way. The lack of a gamma-ray signal in the GRS instrument of the SMM satellite in coincidence with the observation of the neutrinos emitted from SN1987A therefore provides a strong bound on their coupling to photons. Due to the large uncertainty associated with the current bound, we revise this argument, based on state-of-the-art physical inputs both for the supernova models and for the Milky-Way magnetic field. Furthermore, we provide major amendments, such as the consistent treatment of nucleon-degeneracy effects and of the reduction of the nuclear masses in the hot and dense nuclear medium of the supernova. With these improvements, we obtain a new upper limit on the photon-ALP coupling: g_{a\gamma} < 5.3 x 10^{-12} GeV^{-1}, for m_a < 4.4 x 10^{-10} eV, and we also give its dependence at larger ALP masses. Moreover, we discuss how much the Fermi-LAT satellite experiment could improve this bound, should a close-enough supernova explode in the near future.
hub tools
citation-role summary
background 4
baseline 1
citation-polarity summary
representative citing papers
Stripped-envelope supernovae enable QCD axion detection to masses around 10^{-4} eV via gamma-ray signals from conversion in progenitor magnetic fields.
Proposes that axion-photon conversion in pre-CMB helical magnetic fields imprints detectable V-mode polarization in the CMB, allowing CLASS 40 GHz observations to constrain ALP masses 10^{-10} to 10^{-8} eV and their photon coupling under optimistic nG field assumptions.
Resonant cavities enhance axion dark matter decay to two photons via the Purcell effect, offering a competitive search method implementable with pre-existing heterodyne detection schemes.
Supernova models yield coupling limits g_a ≲ 0.9×10^{-10} and g_φ ≲ 0.4×10^{-10} for masses above 100 keV from gamma-ray observations, plus stronger trapping-regime limits from explosion energy, that are difficult to reconcile with a muon g-2 explanation.
Turbulent magnetic fields enhance axion-photon conversion signals from supernovae, improving limits on axion-proton and axion-photon couplings by up to two orders of magnitude.
Monitor and Beacon TDI combinations reach g_aγ ~ 10^{-13} GeV^{-1} at high frequencies while Sagnac performs better at low frequencies, with ASTROD-GW probing axion-like dark matter masses down to 10^{-20} eV.
Neutron dark decays modify the equation of state and either mildly suppress or strongly enhance bulk viscosity in neutron star merger conditions, depending on the in-medium decay rate.
Analytical expressions for ALP-photon conversion in transient compact stars yield an updated bound g_aγ < 5×10^{-12} GeV^{-1} for m_a ≲ 10^{-9} eV from SN 1987A, plus sensitivity forecasts for future Galactic SN and NSM observations.
NuSTAR solar minimum data sets g_ae · g_aγ ≲ 1.1×10^{-24} GeV^{-1} and g_aN^eff · g_aγ ≲ 2.3×10^{-19} GeV^{-1} at 95% CL for m_a ≲ 10^{-6} eV.
Semi-analytic modeling of supernova cooling with six PNS parameters yields bounds on axion-nucleon coupling versus ALP mass that match numerical simulation results.
Solar axion-like particles up to 5.5 MeV produce off-axis MeV photons via two-body decay, enabling new space and terrestrial searches that could probe g_aγ down to 10^{-12} GeV^{-1}.
citing papers explorer
-
Lights, Camera, Axion: Tracing Axions from Supernovae in the Diffuse $\gamma$-ray Sky
Axions produced in supernovae generate a diffuse gamma-ray signal through conversion in magnetic fields, yielding competitive constraints on the axion-photon coupling from COMPTEL, EGRET, and Fermi-LAT data plus forecasts for future MeV telescopes.
-
Stripped-Envelope Supernovae for QCD Axion Detection
Stripped-envelope supernovae enable QCD axion detection to masses around 10^{-4} eV via gamma-ray signals from conversion in progenitor magnetic fields.
-
Probing Axion-Photon conversion via circular polarization imprints in the CMB $V$-mode observations
Proposes that axion-photon conversion in pre-CMB helical magnetic fields imprints detectable V-mode polarization in the CMB, allowing CLASS 40 GHz observations to constrain ALP masses 10^{-10} to 10^{-8} eV and their photon coupling under optimistic nG field assumptions.
-
Resonant enhancement of axion dark matter decay
Resonant cavities enhance axion dark matter decay to two photons via the Purcell effect, offering a competitive search method implementable with pre-existing heterodyne detection schemes.
-
Muonic Boson Limits: Supernova Redux
Supernova models yield coupling limits g_a ≲ 0.9×10^{-10} and g_φ ≲ 0.4×10^{-10} for masses above 100 keV from gamma-ray observations, plus stronger trapping-regime limits from explosion energy, that are difficult to reconcile with a muon g-2 explanation.
-
Magnetic Turbulence Boosts Supernova Signals of Axion-Photon Conversion
Turbulent magnetic fields enhance axion-photon conversion signals from supernovae, improving limits on axion-proton and axion-photon couplings by up to two orders of magnitude.
-
Detectability of axion-like dark matter for different time-delay interferometry combinations in space-based gravitational wave detectors
Monitor and Beacon TDI combinations reach g_aγ ~ 10^{-13} GeV^{-1} at high frequencies while Sagnac performs better at low frequencies, with ASTROD-GW probing axion-like dark matter masses down to 10^{-20} eV.
-
Bulk viscosity from neutron decays to dark baryons in neutron star matter
Neutron dark decays modify the equation of state and either mildly suppress or strongly enhance bulk viscosity in neutron star merger conditions, depending on the in-medium decay rate.
-
Axion-photon conversion in transient compact stars: Systematics, constraints, and opportunities
Analytical expressions for ALP-photon conversion in transient compact stars yield an updated bound g_aγ < 5×10^{-12} GeV^{-1} for m_a ≲ 10^{-9} eV from SN 1987A, plus sensitivity forecasts for future Galactic SN and NSM observations.
-
NuSTAR as an Axion Helioscope: probing axion-nucleon and axion-electron couplings
NuSTAR solar minimum data sets g_ae · g_aγ ≲ 1.1×10^{-24} GeV^{-1} and g_aN^eff · g_aγ ≲ 2.3×10^{-19} GeV^{-1} at 95% CL for m_a ≲ 10^{-6} eV.
-
Semi-analytic bounds on axion-like-particle supernovae emission
Semi-analytic modeling of supernova cooling with six PNS parameters yields bounds on axion-nucleon coupling versus ALP mass that match numerical simulation results.
-
Looking for Lights from the Darkness: Signals from MeV-scale Solar Axion-like Particles
Solar axion-like particles up to 5.5 MeV produce off-axis MeV photons via two-body decay, enabling new space and terrestrial searches that could probe g_aγ down to 10^{-12} GeV^{-1}.