arXiv · 2509.18253
Small Progenitors, Large Couplings: Type Ic Supernova Constraints on Radiatively Decaying Particles
Abstract
Supernova (SN) 1987A provides classic bounds on gamma-ray flashes from the radiative decay of sub-GeV particles, but the latter may decay so rapidly as to be shielded by the stellar envelope. Using axionlike particles with photon coupling as a benchmark, we show that Type Ic core-collapse supernovae largely evade this attenuation due to their compact progenitors. We identify two regimes. At small couplings, while individual flashes may be missed by Fermi-LAT, the high Type Ic rate enables a stacking analysis of nondetections. At larger couplings, decay photons trigger fireball formation; the absence of a signal from the rare broad-lined Type Ic SN 1998bw excludes this scenario. The resulting bounds significantly exceed those from SN 1987A for short decay lengths.
Explore related subjects
Keep this discovery
Francisco R. Candón, Damiano F. G. Fiorillo, Hans-Thomas Janka, Bart F. A. van Baal, Edoardo Vitagliano. 2025-09-22. Small Progenitors, Large Couplings: Type Ic Supernova Constraints on Radiatively Decaying Particles. https://doi.org/10.1103/d562-j1yz
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.