Searching for axion-like particles in the photon disappearance channel

by M. C. David Marsh (Stockholm University)

Tuesday 30 Nov 2021, 15:00 → 16:00 Europe/Stockholm

https://stockholmuniversity.zoom.us/j/940229961

Axions and axion-like particles comprise a well-motivated class of hypothetical extensions of the Standard Model of particle physics. In the talk, I will discuss how these particles can be searched for using astronomical observations. A particularly important process is axion-photon conversion in magnetic fields, which leads to an energy-dependent reduction of the photon flux from bright sources embedded in magnetic environments. I will review how this method has become the leading way to search for light axion-like particles by using X-ray fluxes from AGNs in galaxy clusters, and I will discuss the current challenges within this research field. I will also discuss recent theoretical developments that have shown that the problem of axion-photon mixing can be drastically simplified by using ‟quantum” perturbation theory, which opens up new possibilities for current and upcoming precision X-ray studies.

https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2021arXiv210708040M/abstract

Marsh_2021-Nov-30.mp4