NuSTAR as an Axion Helioscope

Ruz, J. ; Todarello, E. ; Vogel, J. K. ; Rodriguez Candón, F. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Giannotti, M. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Grefenstette, B. ; Hudson, H.S. ; Hannah, I. G. ; García Irastorza, I. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Kim, C. S. ; Regis, M. ; Smith, D. M. ; Taoso, M. ; Trujillo Bueno, J.

Resumen: We present a novel approach to investigating axions and axionlike particles by studying their potential conversion into x-rays within the Sun’s atmospheric magnetic field. Utilizing high-sensitivity data from the nuclear spectroscopic telescope array (NuSTAR) collected during the 2020 solar minimum, along with advanced solar atmospheric magnetic field models, we establish a new limit on the axion-photon coupling strength ⁢≲7.3×10−12  GeV−1 at 95% CL for axion masses ≲4×10−7  eV. This constraint surpasses current ground-based experimental limits, studying previously unexplored regions of the axion-photon coupling parameter space up to masses of ≲3.4 ×10−4  eV. These findings mark a significant advancement in our ability to probe axion properties and strengthen indirect searches for dark matter candidates.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1103/18sn-hxtb

Año: 2025

Publicado en: Physical Review Letters 135, 141001 (2025), 7
ISSN: 0031-9007

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)

Área (Departamento): Área Astronomía y Astrofísica (Dpto. Física Teórica)
Área (Departamento): Área Física Atóm.Molec.y Nucl. (Dpto. Física Teórica)