Galaxy Cluster Thermal X-Ray Spectra Constrain Axion-Like Particles

Abstract

Axion-like particles (ALPs) and photons inter-convert in the presence of a magnetic field. At keV energies in the environment of galaxy clusters, the conversion probability can become unsuppressed for light ALPs. Conversion of thermal X-ray photons into ALPs can introduce a step-like feature into the cluster thermal bremsstrahlung spectrum, and we argue that existing X-ray data on galaxy clusters should be sufficient to extend bounds on ALPs in the low-mass region $m_a\lesssim 1\times 10^{-12}\mathrm{eV}$ down to $M\sim 7\times 10^{11}\mathrm{GeV}$, and that for $10^{11}\mathrm{GeV}<M\lesssim 10^{12}$ GeV light ALPs give rise to interesting and unique observational signatures that may be probed by existing and upcoming X-ray (and potentially X-ray polarisation) observations of galaxy clusters.

5 pages

References in corpus (5)

• Revisiting the SN1987A gamma-ray limit on ultralight axion-like particles
• Active Galactic Nuclei Shed Light on Axion-like-Particles
• Irregularity in gamma ray source spectra as a signature of axionlike particles
• A NuSTAR observation of the center of the Coma Cluster
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Cited by in corpus (26)

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• Polarized anisotropic spectral distortions of the CMB: Galactic and extragalactic constraints on photon-axion conversion
• Axion dark matter search using arm cavity transmitted beams of gravitational wave detectors
• Projected bounds on ALPs from Athena
• The Fourier formalism for relativistic axion-photon conversion, with astrophysical applications
• Axions: From Magnetars and Neutron Star Mergers to Beam Dumps and BECs
• A new probe of Axion-Like Particles: CMB polarization distortions due to cluster magnetic fields
• Prospects for detecting axionlike particles at the Coherent CAPTAIN-Mills experiment
• Photon-ALP oscillations inducing modifications to photon polarization
• Constraints on Massive Axion-Like Particles from X-ray Observations of NGC1275
• Axion-Like Particle Production at Beam Dump Experiments with Distinct Nuclear Excitation Lines
• Improving Statistical Sensitivity of X-ray Searches for Axion-Like Particles
• The 3.5 keV Line from Stringy Axions
• Gamma Ray Signals from Cosmic Ray Scattering on Axion-Like Particles
• Non-sphericity of ultralight axion dark matter haloes in the Galactic dwarf spheroidal galaxies
• Laboratory Measurements of X-Ray Emission from Highly Charged Argon Ions
• Axion-like Particle Effects on Photon Polarization in High-Energy Astrophysics
• Constraining gravitational-wave backgrounds from conversions into photons in the Galactic magnetic field
• Active galactic nuclei through the prism of galaxy clusters: bounds on axion-like particles
• Photon Ring Dimming as a Signature of Photon-Axion Conversion in Janis-Newman-Winicour Naked Singularity