Abstract
X-ray telescopes are an exceptional tool for searching for new fundamental physics. In particular, X-ray observations have already placed world-leading bounds on the interaction between photons and axion-like particles (ALPs). ALPs are hypothetical new ultra-light particles motivated by string theory models. They can also act as dark matter and dark energy, and provide a solution to the strong CP problem. In a background magnetic field, ALPs and photons may interconvert. This leads to energy dependent modulations in both the flux and polarisation of the spectra of point sources shining through large magnetic fields. The next generation of polarising X-ray telescopes will offer new detection possibilities for ALPs. Here we present techniques and projected bounds for searching for ALPs with X-ray polarimetry. We demonstrate that upcoming X-ray polarimetry missions have the potential to place world-leading bounds on ALPs.
Highlights
The Standard Model (SM) of particle physics was completed by the discovery of the Higgs boson in 2012 [1,2], and reproduces a range of experimental results to astonishing accuracy [3]
These bounds are more constraining than existing bounds on low mass Axion-like particles (ALPs)
Our preliminary projections of bounds from polarimetry measurements are approximately equal to or exceed by a factor of a few those obtained from X-ray flux only measurements of NGC1275 [17]
Summary
The Standard Model (SM) of particle physics was completed by the discovery of the Higgs boson in 2012 [1,2], and reproduces a range of experimental results to astonishing accuracy [3]. Galaxies 2018, 6, 45 world-leading bounds on the ALP-photon interaction by searching for characteristic modulations in the spectra of point sources passing through the magnetic fields of galaxy clusters [17,18,19,20]. The existence of ALPs would lead to distinctive signatures in the X-ray polarization spectrum of sources passing through large magnetized regions. Upcoming missions such as IXPE [21] and Polstar [22] open up new search strategies with the potential to discover ALPs. Upcoming missions such as IXPE [21] and Polstar [22] open up new search strategies with the potential to discover ALPs Such strategies have been discussed previously in [23], where photon to ALP conversion in the magnetic field of the Virgo supercluster is used.
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