Neutron stars yield tighter bounds on muonic scalar and vector fifth forces (g_φμ ≲ 10^{-12}, g_Vμ ≲ 3×10^{-13} for m_X ≲ 100 keV) than SN 1987A, plus hydrostatic constraints for long-range cases.
Supernova production of axion-like particles coupling to electrons, reloaded
6 Pith papers cite this work. Polarity classification is still indexing.
abstract
We revisit the production of axion-like particles (ALPs) coupled to electrons at tree-level in a relativistic plasma. We explicitly demonstrate the equivalence between pseudoscalar and derivative couplings, incorporate previously neglected processes for the first time-namely, semi-Compton production ($\gamma e^-\rightarrow a e^-$) and pair annihilation ($e^+e^-\rightarrow a\gamma$)-and derive analytical expressions for the bremsstrahlung ($e^- N\to e^- N a$) production rate, enabling a more computationally efficient evaluation of the ALP flux. Additionally, we assess uncertainties in the production rate arising from electron thermal mass corrections, electron-electron Coulomb interactions, and the Landau-Pomeranchuk-Migdal effect. The ALP emissivity is made available in a public repository as a function of the ALP mass, the temperature, and the electron chemical potential of the plasma. Finally, we examine the impact of ALP production and subsequent decays on astrophysical observables, deriving the leading bounds on ALPs coupling to electrons. At small couplings, the dominant constraints come from the previously neglected decay $a\to e^+ e^-\gamma$, except for a region of fireball formation where SN 1987A X-ray observations offer the best probe. At large couplings, bounds are dominated by the energy deposition argument, with a recently developed new prescription for the trapping regime.
representative citing papers
Treating longitudinal and transverse polarizations of light Z' bosons independently modifies the SN1987A bounds on their parameter space in the Lμ-Lτ model.
A minimal electrophilic ALP portal for SIMP pion dark matter widens the allowed parameter space, making an ALP mass of order 10 MeV viable and consistent with the X17 anomaly.
Re-evaluation of sub-GeV Lμ-Lτ gauge boson constraints from beam-dump production modes and multiple supernova observables, highlighting differences from existing literature.
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.
Proposes a hydrocarbon detector at SNS for order-of-magnitude better sensitivity to 10-100 MeV axion-like particles and heavy neutral leptons via e+e- decays from muon decays at rest.
citing papers explorer
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Probing Long-Lived Particle Production in Muon Decays at the SNS with a Highly Capable Hydrocarbon Detector
Proposes a hydrocarbon detector at SNS for order-of-magnitude better sensitivity to 10-100 MeV axion-like particles and heavy neutral leptons via e+e- decays from muon decays at rest.