Title: Resonant conversion of axion dark radiation into terahertz electromagnetic radiation in a neutron star magnetosphere
In the strong magnetic field of a neutron star’s magnetosphere, axions coupled to electromagnetism develop a nonzero probability to convert into photons. Past studies have revealed that the axion-photon conversion can be resonantly enhanced. We recognize that the axion-photon resonance admits two parametrically distinct resonant solutions, which we call the mass-matched resonance and the Euler-Heisenberg assisted resonance. The mass-matched resonance occurs at a point in the magnetosphere where the radially-varying plasma frequency crosses the axion mass ω pl m a . The Euler-Heisenberg assisted resonance occurs where the axion energy satisfies ω ( 2 ω pl 2 / 7 g γ γ γ γ B ¯ 2 ) 1 / 2 . This second resonance is made possible though the strong background magnetic field B ¯ , as well as the nonzero Euler-Heisenberg four-photon self-interaction, which has the coupling g γ γ γ γ = 8 α 2 / 45 m e 4 . We study the resonant conversion of relativistic axion dark radiation into photons via the Euler-Heisenberg assisted resonance, and we calculate the expected electromagnetic radiation assuming different values for the axion-photon coupling g a γ γ and different amplitudes for the axion flux onto the neutron star Φ a . We briefly discuss several possible sources of axion dark radiation. Achieving a sufficiently strong axion flux to induce a detectable electromagnetic signal seems unlikely. Published by the American Physical Society2024  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2114024
PAR ID:
10562237
Author(s) / Creator(s):
;
Publisher / Repository:
Physical Review D
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Physical Review D
Volume:
110
Issue:
10
ISSN:
2470-0010
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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