English

Constraints on axion-like particles with H.E.S.S. from observations of PKS 2155-304

High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena 2019-08-14 v1

Abstract

Axion-like particles are hypothetical new light (sub-eV) bosons predicted in some extensions of the Standard Model of particle physics. In astrophysical environments comprising high-energy gamma rays and turbulent magnetic fields, the existence of axion-like particles can modify the energy spectrum of the gamma rays. This modification would take the form of an irregular behavior of the energy spectrum in a limited energy range. Data from the H.E.S.S. observations of the distant BL Lac PKS 2155-304 are used to derive conservative upper limits on the strength of the axion-like particle coupling to photons. This study gives rise to the first exclusions on axion-like particles from gamma-ray astronomy. The derived constraints apply to both light pseudo-scalar and scalar bosons that couple to the electromagnetic field.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1307.6068,
  title  = {Constraints on axion-like particles with H.E.S.S. from observations of PKS 2155-304},
  author = {Pierre Brun and Denis Wouters},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1307.6068},
  year   = {2019}
}

Comments

In Proceedings of the 33rd International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC2013), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)