arXiv subjects

Alessandro Lella

Publications and source records attributed to Alessandro Lella.

21 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2024

Cross section for supernova axion observation in neutrino water Cherenkov detectors

Axions coupled to nucleons might be copiously emitted from core-collapse supernovae (SNe). If the axion-nucleon coupling is strong enough, axions would be emitted from the SN as a burst and, reaching Earth, may excite the oxygen nuclei in water Cherenkov detectors (${}^{16}{\rm O} + a \to {}^{16}{\rm O}^{*}$). This process will be followed by decay(s) of the excited state resulting in an emission of photons and thus providing a possibility for a direct detection of axions from a Galactic SN in large underground neutrino Cherenkov detectors. Motivated by this possibility, we present an updated calculation of axion-oxygen cross section obtained by using self-consistent continuum Random Phase Approximation. We calculate the branching ratio of the oxygen nucleus de-excitation into gamma-rays, neutrons, protons and $α$-particles and also consider photon emission from secondary nuclei to compute a total $γ$ spectrum created when axions excite ${}^{16}{\rm O}$. These results are used to revisit the detectability of axions from SN 1987A in Kamiokande-II.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2024

Getting the most on supernova axions

Axion-like particles (ALPs) coupled to nucleons might be copiously emitted from a supernova (SN) core. We extend existing bounds on free-streaming ALPs to the case in which these are so strongly-interacting with the nuclear matter to be trapped in the SN core. For strongly-interacting ALPs, we also extend the bound from the absence of an ALP-induced signal in Kamiokande-II neutrino detector at the time of SN 1987A. We find that combining the different arguments, SNe exclude values of ALP-nucleon coupling $g_{aN}\gtrsim10^{-9}$ for ALP masses $m_a\lesssim 1\,\mathrm{MeV}$. Remarkably, in the case of canonical QCD axion models, the SN bounds exclude all values of $m_a \gtrsim 10^{-2}\,\mathrm{eV}$. This result prevents the possibility for current and future cosmological surveys to detect any signatures due to hot dark matter QCD axion mass.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2023

Proto-neutron stars as cosmic factories for massive axion-like-particles

The parameter space of massive axion-like-particles (ALPs) with $m_a \sim {\mathcal O} (100)$ MeV and coupled with nucleons is largely unexplored. Here, we present new constraints in this parameter region. In doing so, we characterize the supernova emissivity of heavy ALPs from a proto-neutron star, including for the first time mass effects in both nucleon-nucleon Bremsstrahlung and pionic Compton processes. In addition, we highlight novel possibilities to probe the couplings with photons and leptons from supernova ALP decays.

hep-ph↗