Searching for axion-like particles under strong gravitational lenses

by Aritra Basu (Thüringer Landessternwarte, Tautenburg)

Wednesday 26 May 2021, 13:30 → 14:30 Europe/Stockholm

https://stockholmuniversity.zoom.us/j/530682073

We establish strong gravitational lens systems as robust probes of axion-like particles (ALPs) -- a candidate for dark matter. A tiny interaction of photons with ALPs induces birefringence. Multiple images of gravitationally lensed polarised objects allow differential birefringence measurement, alleviating systematics and astrophysical dependencies. We apply this novel method to the lens system CLASS B1152+199 and constrain ALP-photon coupling ≤9.2×10−11GeV−1 to 7.7×10−8GeV−1 (95% C.L.) for ALP mass between 3.6×10−21eV and 4.6×10−18eV. A larger sample will improve the constraints.

https://arxiv.org/abs/2007.01440

Basu_2021-May-26.mp4