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Francesca Chadha-Day

Publications and source records attributed to Francesca Chadha-Day.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Dyonic lattices, $θ$-angles and axions in the Standard Model

We investigate the implications of the Witten effect in the Standard Model with a general global gauge group structure and determine the values of the three $θ$-parameters that lead to distinct families of allowed spectra of dyons. We construct and classify the corresponding dyonic charge lattices consistent with the Standard Model gauge structure. This approach enables us to re-derive the known global-group--dependent periodicities of the $θ$ angles and to determine all CP-invariant points in $θ$-space. The electromagnetic subgroup $U(1)_{\mathrm{em}}$ is shown to arise \emph{prior} to electroweak symmetry breaking by factoring out the effect of the anomalous $B+L$ transformations, which reduces the physical $θ$-parameter space from a three-torus to a two-torus. Our phenomenological conclusions include an observation that a discovery of a $U(1)_{\mathrm{em}}$ monopole carrying non-zero electric charge would determine the last remaining unknown parameter of the Standard Model. Lastly we study how $θ$-space shapes axion physics with emphasis on the axion-photon coupling and show that a single axion is insufficient to render the Standard Model vacuum fully CP invariant.

hep-ph

Discovering the Axiverse via Fifth Forces

If the Universe is described by string theory or other extensions of the Standard Model, several light, axion-like states are predicted to exist. However, most experiments only search for one of these states. We show that searches for fifth forces can't assume a non-relativistic potential induced by a single axion field. We discuss the strength of the non-relativistic spin-dependent and spin-independent potentials in the most general case of $N_a$ different axions and show how the shape of the potentials can be used to distinguish between different axiverse scenarios.

hep-ph

Searching for axions with time resolved pulsar polarimetry

Pulsars possess strong dipole magnetic fields that can source axion fields through the axion-photon interaction. Pulsars may therefore be surrounded by axion field configurations oscillating with the pulsar's rotational period. These axions could be detected by observing their effect on the polarization of the pular's emission. In this paper, we use time resolved observations of the optical polarization of the Crab pulsar to place bounds on the axion-photon coupling, demonstrating the potential of time resolved pulsar birefringence in the search for axions.

hep-ph

WISPedia -- the WISPs Encyclopedia

The Weakly-Interacting Slim Particle encyclopedia (WISPedia) is a comprehensive reference work dedicated to the systematic compilation of theoretical models, Effective Field Theories, and frameworks involving Weakly Interacting Slim Particles (WISPs): a broad class of light, feebly coupled particles proposed in extensions of the Standard Model. In current times, where the number of models largely surpasses the number of new physics signals, this encyclopedia aims to provide a concise reference of their landscape. The goal is to provide a useful tool to the community to navigate among them. It does not aim to review all the models in detail, but to define their essential characteristics, and point the reader to useful and minimal material such as the original sources, review articles, tools and general compilations of bounds. Hence, the format of this reference resembles the direct style of a model encyclopedia of WISPs.

hep-ph

Axion superradiance

Light bosonic fields may suffer an instability around a rotating compact object. This process, known as superradiance, leads to the exponential amplification of the field around a black hole or neutron star, while the spin of the central object is correspondingly depleted. The discovery of a highly spinning black hole could therefore be used to constrain the existence of light bosons such as axions in a particular range of masses. These constraints apply for very low non-gravitational couplings between the boson and the Standard Model, offering a powerful search strategy for new physics. However, care must be taken to include the more complex effects of the black hole's astrophysical environment. Conversely, stellar superradiance could allow us to probe additional non-gravitational interactions between a new boson at the stellar matter. In this article, I will discuss the current status and future directions of axion superradiance. This is a contribution to the proceedings of the 3rd General Meeting of the COST Action COSMIC WISPers.

hep-ph

The COSMIC WISPers White Paper: The physics case for Weakly Interacting Slim Particles

Axions and other very weakly interacting slim particles (WISPs), with masses below 1 GeV, arise naturally in many extensions of the Standard Model of particle physics. In particular, they could offer a new framework to explain the nature of dark matter and may help address a range of puzzling observations in astrophysics and particle physics. This review provides an overview of ongoing WISP searches and outlines the prospects for the next decade, spanning their theoretical motivation, indirect signatures in astrophysical observations, and dedicated laboratory experiments. It is based on the work carried on by the EU-funded COST Action ``Cosmic WISPers in the Dark Universe: Theory, astrophysics, and experiments'' (CA21106, https://www.cost.eu/actions/CA21106). This network plays a key role in coordinating and supporting WISP searches across Europe, while also contributing to the development of a roadmap aimed at securing European leadership in this research area. It is emphasized that Europe is currently pursuing a rich, diverse, and cost-effective experimental program, with the potential to deliver one or more transformative discoveries.

hep-ph

ALP Anarchy

String theory models generically predict the existence of multiple axion-like particle (ALP) fields, yet the majority of both theoretical and experimental works have assumed only one ALP. In this paper, we discuss the phenomenology of systems with multiple ALPs that can undergo oscillations akin to neutrino oscillations. Motivated by this effect, we extend the 'anarchy' framework, which has been used to predict neutrino oscillation parameters, to generate the parameters of many ALP systems. We explore the phenomenology of these ALP anarchy models in some of the leading ALP search strategies, including the CERN Axion Solar Telescope, magnetic white dwarfs and the gamma-ray spectra of distant blazars. We include both the ALP-photon and the ALP-electron coupling. We find that ALP anarchy models predict drastically different results than single ALP models.

hep-ph

Axion Dark Matter: What is it and Why Now?

The axion has emerged in recent years as a leading particle candidate to provide the mysterious dark matter in the cosmos, as we review here for a general scientific audience. We describe first the historical roots of the axion in the Standard Model of particle physics and the problem of charge-parity invariance of the strong nuclear force. We then discuss how the axion emerges as a dark matter candidate, and how it is produced in the early Universe. The symmetry properties of the axion dictate the form of its interactions with ordinary matter. Astrophysical considerations restrict the particle mass and interaction strengths to a limited range, which facilitates the planning of experiments to detect the axion. A companion review discusses the exciting prospect that the axion could {indeed} be detected in the near term in the laboratory.

hep-ph

Superradiance in Stars: Non-equilibrium approach to damping of fields in stellar media

Superradiance in black holes is well-understood but a general treatment for superradiance in stars has until now been lacking. This is surprising given the ease with which we can observe isolated neutron stars and the array of signatures which would result from stellar superradiance. In this work, we present the first systematic pipeline for computing superradiance rates in rotating stars. Our method can be used with any Lagrangian describing the interaction between the superradiant field and the constituents of the star. Our scheme falls into two parts: firstly we show how field theory at finite density can be used to express the absorption of long wavelength modes into the star in terms of microphsyical scattering processes. This allows us to derive a damped equation of motion for the bosonic field. We then feed this into an effective theory for long wavelengths (the so-called worldline formalism) to describe the amplification of superradiant modes of arbitrary multipole moment for a rapidly rotating star. Our method places stellar superradiance on a firm theoretical footing and allows the calculation of the superradiance rate arising from any interaction between a bosonic field and stellar matter.

hep-ph

Updated Bounds on Axion-Like Particles from X-ray Observations

In this work we revisit five different point sources within or behind galaxy clusters in order to constrain the coupling constant between axion-like particles (ALPs) and photons. We use three distinct machine learning (ML) techniques and compare our results with a standard $χ^2$ analysis. For the first time we apply approximate Bayesian computation to searches for ALPs and find consistently good performance across ML classifiers. Further, we apply more realistic 3D magnetic field simulations of galaxy clusters and compare our results with previously used 1D simulations. We find constraints on the ALP-photon coupling at the level of state-of-the-art bounds with $g_{aγγ} \lesssim 0.6 \times 10^{-12}$ GeV${}^{-1}$, hence improving on previous constraints obtained from the same observations.

astro-ph.CO

Axion-like particle oscillations

String theory compactifications may generate many light axion-like particles (ALPs) with weak couplings to electromagnetism. In general, a large number of ALPs may exist, with a linear combination having a potentially observable coupling to electromagnetism. The basis in which only one ALP couples to electromagnetism is in general misaligned with the mass basis. This leads to mixing between the `electromagnetic' ALP and a number of `hidden' ALPs that do not interact directly with the photon. The process is analagous to neutrino oscillations. I will discuss the phenomenological consequences of this mixing for astrophysical ALP signals, in particular showing that it may significantly reduce the predicted signal in experiments such as the CERN Axion Solar Telescope.

hep-ph

Axion Quasiparticles for Axion Dark Matter Detection

It has been suggested that certain antiferromagnetic topological insulators contain axion quasiparticles (AQs), and that such materials could be used to detect axion dark matter (DM). The AQ is a longitudinal antiferromagnetic spin fluctuation coupled to the electromagnetic Chern-Simons term, which, in the presence of an applied magnetic field, leads to mass mixing between the AQ and the electric field. The electromagnetic boundary conditions and transmission and reflection coefficients are computed. A model for including losses into this system is presented, and the resulting linewidth is computed. It is shown how transmission spectroscopy can be used to measure the resonant frequencies and damping coefficients of the material, and demonstrate conclusively the existence of the AQ. The dispersion relation and boundary conditions permit resonant conversion of axion DM into THz photons in a material volume that is independent of the resonant frequency, which is tuneable via an applied magnetic field. A parameter study for axion DM detection is performed, computing boost amplitudes and bandwidths using realistic material properties including loss. The proposal could allow for detection of axion DM in the mass range between 1 and 10 meV using current and near future technology.

hep-ph