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Xiao-Jun Bi

Publications and source records attributed to Xiao-Jun Bi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Dynamics of Wave Structures in Multifield Fuzzy Dark Matter Halos

As a natural extension of the single-field fuzzy dark matter (FDM) model, multifield FDM has attracted increasing attention in recent years. This scenario is motivated both by the axiverse scenario predicted by string theory and by the possibility that multifield FDM may provide a better match to astrophysical observations than its single-field counterpart. In this work, we perform high-resolution numerical simulations to systematically investigate the dynamics of wave structures in multifield FDM halos. In particular, we study the oscillatory and stochastic motions of the central core, the evolution and statistical properties of granules, and the resulting dynamical heating of embedded stellar systems. We find that the frequency spectra of the core density oscillations develop multiple peaks and shift toward higher frequencies relative to the single-field case. The centers of different field components undergo nearly synchronized random walks, while subdominant components exhibit larger random-walk amplitudes. We further show that the suppression of granule density fluctuations with increasing number of fields is largely insensitive to the fractional abundance of each component over a broad parameter range. Moreover, using self-consistent simulations, we find that the dynamical heating induced by granules is progressively suppressed as the number of fields increases. However, once the contribution from the central core is taken into account, this trend would become much less pronounced.

astro-ph.CO

Sideband Structure of Axion Electrodynamics

We develop a Floquet--Bloch sideband formulation of the linearized Maxwell--axion system in a coherent periodic axion background. Linearizing around prescribed magnetic and axion fields, we show that the pump generates a sideband ladder of photon and axion branches. Near an isolated folded degeneracy, this ladder reduces to a two-mode crossing whose algebra is fixed by the symplectic signatures of the colliding modes. In temporal fixed-momentum evolution, same-Krein-sign collisions give stable avoided crossings, whereas opposite-sign collisions give parametric instabilities, unifying the axion-photon difference channel with the Mathieu and Masaki-Aoki-Soda resonances. In stationary fixed-frequency transfer, the corresponding flux signatures distinguish bounded forward conversion from forward-backward stop bands and distributed reflection. Ray projection of a temporal pump gives a related but local WKB description of driven forward mixing, with an effective wavenumber distinct from the true axion momentum. External-field diagrams reproduce the sideband selection rules, and full temporal monodromy calculations verify the instability topology and finite-coupling shifts.

hep-ph

Evolution of Compact Stellar Systems in Ultralight Dark Matter Halos: Dependence on Stellar and Dark Matter Parameters

Compact stellar systems are often used to place stringent constraints on the particle mass of ultralight dark matter (ULDM), as the heating effect induced by wave interference can drive system expansion, potentially bringing them into tension with observations. In a recent study, we pointed out that internal two-body relaxation in these stellar systems may have a significant impact on their evolution in ULDM halos, an effect overlooked in previous studies. Here, we further investigate the influence of stellar metallicity, the Milky Way's tidal field, and the ULDM particle mass on the long-term fate of compact stellar populations. We find that metal-richer systems are generally more resistant to disruption. The tidal field of the Milky Way, by altering the orbital motion of the stellar systems within host ULDM halos, can significantly affect their stability. Furthermore, we find in our simulations that the heating effect becomes stronger with increasing ULDM particle mass when the system size is much smaller than the ULDM de Broglie wavelength $R_{\rm h} \ll \lambda_{\rm dB} $, in contrast to the $\lambda_{\rm dB}\lesssim R_{\rm h}$ case. These results highlight the complexity of the evolution of compact stellar systems in ULDM halos, and suggest that existing constraints derived from the systems, such as ultrafaint dwarf galaxies, may require careful revision.

astro-ph.GA

Constraints on Self-Interacting Fuzzy Dark Matter from the Stellar Kinematics of the Dwarf Galaxy Leo II

The one-parameter fuzzy dark matter (FDM) model has faced increasingly stringent constraints from both Lyman-$\alpha$ forest observations and local measurements of dwarf galaxies. A natural extension to mitigate these limits is the inclusion of FDM self-interactions. In this study, we derive constraints in the two-dimensional parameter space $(m_a, f_a)$ using the dark matter density profile inferred from a Jeans analysis of the stellar kinematics in the dwarf galaxy Leo II, which has previously been employed to constrain non-interacting FDM. We find that, for a fixed particle mass $m_a$, attractive (repulsive) self-interaction leads to a more concentrated (more diffuse) FDM density profile relative to the non-interacting case, thereby improving (worsening) agreement with the Jeans analysis results. Our results indicate that, for either attractive or repulsive SI with strength $f_a^{-1}\lesssim 10^{-14}\,\mathrm{GeV}^{-1}$, the $95\%$ confidence-level lower limits on $m_a$ lies within the range $(1-10)\times10^{-22}\,\mathrm{eV}$, although the precise bounds depend to some extent on the statistical method employed. This analysis simultaneously constrains the two parameters $(m_a, f_a)$ without relying on assumptions about cosmological or galaxy evolution histories, and thus offers a complementary probe to existing constraints.

astro-ph.CO

Resolving diffusion signatures in distant pulsar halos with current and future experiments

Pulsar halos provide a unique probe of cosmic-ray propagation in the vicinity of pulsars and have important implications for our understanding of particle diffusion in the interstellar medium. However, the number of firmly identified pulsar halos remains limited. One of the main challenges is the difficulty in unambiguously confirming halo candidates through precise morphological measurements with current $\gamma$-ray observations. In this work, we investigate the prospects for identifying pulsar halo candidates through morphological discrimination using simulations of two advanced $\gamma$-ray experiments: LHAASO-KM2A and the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA). Using mock observations with realistic instrumental responses, we assess the ability of each experiment to distinguish diffusion-based halo morphologies from alternative simplified spatial models. Our results show that both increased photon statistics and improved angular resolution significantly enhance the power of morphological discrimination. In particular, CTA benefits from its superior angular resolution, while LHAASO-KM2A gains sensitivity from its large effective area at the highest energies. These results indicate that future $\gamma$-ray observations have the potential to expand the sample of pulsar halos and provide further insights into cosmic-ray transport around pulsars.

astro-ph.HE

Nonlinear diffusive shock acceleration with upstream escape reproduces DAMPE observations

We develop a self-consistent nonlinear extension of diffusive shock acceleration that incorporates cosmic ray (CR) backreaction on the shock precursor together with a physically motivated upstream-escape mechanism that produces an exponential high energy cutoff. The CR pressure gradient decelerates the upstream flow facing the shock wave, generating an extended precursor in which higher rigidity particles sample a larger cumulative velocity gradient and thereby acquire a progressively harder spectrum. Finite-size/escape effects are modeled by a momentum-dependent loss term, which naturally terminates acceleration and steepens the spectrum near the cutoff. The precursor compression ratio is not imposed as a closure condition but is determined dynamically by requiring consistency between the injection rate inferred from thermal leakage at the subshock and the injection strength demanded by the nonlinear shock modification, with CR-driven wave heating providing stabilizing negative feedback. Applying the model to young supernova-remnant-like parameters and standard one-zone Galactic diffusion, we reproduce the main features of the latest DAMPE proton spectrum: gradual hardening from hundreds of GeV to multi-TeV energies and a subsequent exponential cutoff at tens of TeV. The resulting spectral evolution follows directly from the competition between precursor-mediated nonlinear feedback and upstream escape.

astro-ph.HE

Collapse versus Disruption: The Fate of Compact Stellar Systems in Ultralight Dark Matter Halos

Interference of the ultralight dark matter (ULDM) field generates time-varying gravitational potential fluctuations, which stochastically heat stellar systems embedded in ULDM halos. Small-sized stellar systems are therefore often used to set stringent constraints on ULDM. However, the evolution of systems with sizes well below the ULDM de Broglie wavelength remains poorly explored. Using numerical simulations, we show that the evolution of compact stellar systems in ULDM halos is governed by the interplay between internal stellar relaxation and ULDM-induced heating. We find the following main results. First, in sufficiently compact systems, relaxation-driven core collapse dominates, allowing the system to remain bound and dense, while ULDM-induced stripping of outer stars further accelerates the collapse. Second, in more extended systems, ULDM heating dominates and ultimately disrupts the system. Near the disruption threshold, we identify systems resembling ultra-faint dwarfs like Segue 1. Third, we further introduce a dimensionless parameter to quantify the relative importance of heating and relaxation and finally lead to an evolutionary phase diagram. Our results reveal the rich and nontrivial dynamics of compact stellar systems in ULDM halos, indicating that precise system modeling is essential for robust ULDM constraints.

astro-ph.CO

Resonant Photon-Axion Mixing Driven by Dark Matter Oscillations

Wave propagation in periodically time-dependent media can exhibit driven mode conversion that is absent in static or adiabatic descriptions. We show that photon propagation through a coherent axion dark matter background provides a natural realization of such driven dynamics. In the presence of a magnetic field, the oscillating axion field acts as a coherent temporal drive, inducing resonant photon-axion conversion when the mismatch between their dispersion relations is compensated by integer harmonics of the axion oscillation frequency, $\Delta_\gamma - \Delta_a \approx n m_a$ with $n \in \mathbb{Z}$. This driven resonance enables efficient mixing far from the conventional level-crossing regime and disappears entirely upon time averaging, explaining why it is missed in standard treatments. The process constitutes a unitary mode-conversion phenomenon that preserves the axion dark matter number density and is distinct from parametric instabilities or axion decay. A systematic description is naturally provided by Floquet theory. We develop a general framework for photon propagation in oscillating axion backgrounds and show that the resulting resonant mixing leads to characteristic polarization signatures, with potential implications for astrophysical observations such as blazar polarization.

hep-ph

Searching for Ultralight Dark Matter with M{\"o}ssbauer Resonance

We investigate the feasibility of probing the interactions between ultralight scalar dark matter and atomic nuclei using a stationary M\"ossbauer spectroscopy scheme. The exceptional energy resolution of the M\"ossbauer resonance enables searches for tiny nuclear energy shifts induced by the local dark matter field. The dark matter mass range considered in this work is $10^{-18}$--$10^{-8}~\mathrm{eV}$. We present projected constraints for two candidate M\"ossbauer isotopes, $^{109}\mathrm{Ag}$ and $^{45}\mathrm{Sc}$, with $^{109}\mathrm{Ag}$ providing the strongest sensitivity. For $^{109}\mathrm{Ag}$, projected sensitivities as low as approximately $10^{-19}$, $10^{-22}$, and $10^{-21}~\mathrm{GeV^{-1}}$ can be achieved for the scalar DM--photon, DM--gluon, and DM--quark couplings $f_{\gamma}^{-1}$, $f_{g}^{-1}$, and $f_{\hat{m}}^{-1}$, respectively. In the low-mass region, the projected sensitivity to the scalar DM--photon coupling approaches the current constraints from equivalence-principle (EP) tests. These results demonstrate that M\"ossbauer-based techniques provide a promising and competitive approach for probing ultralight dark matter interactions with Standard Model particles.

hep-ph

Probing Lorentz Invariance Violation at High Energies Using LHAASO Observations of GRB221009A via DisCan Algorithm

The Lorentz invariance violation (LIV) predicted by some quantum gravity theories would manifest as an energy-dependent speed of light, which may potentially distort the observed temporal profile of photons from astrophysical sources at cosmological distances. The dispersion cancellation (DisCan) algorithm offers a powerful methodology for investigating such effects by employing quantities such as Shannon entropy, which reflects the initial temporal characteristics. In this study, we apply the DisCan algorithm to search for LIV effects in the LHAASO observations of GRB 221009A, combining data from both the WCDA and KM2A detectors that collectively span an energy range of $\sim 0.2-13$ TeV. Our analysis accounts for the uncertainties from both energy resolution and temporal binning. We derive $95\%$ confidence level lower limits on the LIV energy scale of $E_{\rm{QG}}/10^{19}~\text{GeV}>21.1$ (13.8) for the first-order subluminal (superluminal) scenario, and $E_{\rm{QG}}/10^{11}~\text{GeV}> 14.9$ (13.7) for the second-order subluminal (superluminal) scenario.

astro-ph.HE

Charge-dependent spectral softenings of primary cosmic-rays below the knee

In most particle acceleration or propagation theories, the characteristic features of the cosmic ray spectra due to acceleration limits or propagation phase changes are charge dependent. Alternatively, the interaction scenario would expect mass dependent spectral features in general. The observational verification of which relation takes effect in nature is still lack due to the difficulty of measuring the spectra of individual particles up to very high energies. Here we report direct measurements of the carbon, oxygen, and iron spectra from ~20 gigavolts to ~100 teravolts (~60 teravolts for iron) with 9 years of on-orbit data collected by the Dark Matter Particle Explorer. Distinct spectral softenings have been directly detected in these spectra for the first time. Combined with the updated proton and helium spectra, the spectral softening appears universally at a rigidity of ~15 teravolts. A nuclei mass dependent softening is rejected at a confidence level of >99.999%. Possible interpretations of these results, including a nearby cosmic ray source and other models such as the propagation effect, are discussed.

astro-ph.HE

Uncertainty in Hadronic Diffuse $\gamma$-Ray Emission from the Temporal Stochasticity of Cosmic-Ray Sources

Diffuse $\gamma$-ray emission is a key probe of cosmic rays (CRs) distribution within the Galaxy. However, the discrepancies between observations and theoretical model expectations highlight the need for refined uncertainty estimates. In the literature, spatial and temporal variability of lepton flux has been discussed as an uncertainty in diffuse $\gamma$-ray estimation. In the present work, we demonstrate that variability in the high energy CR hadron flux is an important, yet previously underappreciated, source of uncertainty in diffuse $\gamma$-ray estimates. To assess this effect, we perform fully three-dimensional, time-dependent GALPROP simulations of CR protons injected from discrete Galactic sources. Our results reveal that the uncertainty in the hadronic component of diffuse $\gamma$ rays is non-negligible and can be comparable to, or even exceed, current experimental uncertainties at very high energies. This finding challenges the conventional assumption that only leptonic fluctuations are relevant to diffuse $\gamma$-ray modeling.

astro-ph.HE

Tidal Suppression of Fuzzy Dark Matter Heating in Milky Way Satellite Galaxies

Many previous studies have imposed stringent constraints on the particle mass of fuzzy dark matter (FDM) by analyzing observations of Galactic satellite galaxies, which show no significant evidence of the heating effect predicted by FDM. However, these analyses have generally neglected the tidal influence of the Milky Way, which can substantially suppress the FDM-induced heating effect in satellites. This oversight arises from computational challenges of accurately capturing the tidal effects in FDM simulations. In this study, we present a novel simulation framework that, for the first time, enables the simulation of an FDM-stellar system within an observationally motivated gravitational potential of the Milky Way. This framework incorporates the diverse Galactic components, including the gravitational influence of the Large Magellanic Cloud. Using the Fornax dwarf galaxy as a case study, we demonstrate that tidal effects significantly alleviate the tension between observational data and the predicted heating effect for an FDM particle mass of $m_a\sim 10^{-22}$ eV.

astro-ph.CO

New Physics Search at the CEPC: a General Perspective

The Circular Electron-Positron Collider (CEPC), a proposed next-generation Higgs factory, provides new opportunities to explore physics beyond the Standard Model (SM). With its clean electron-positron collision environment and the ability to collect large samples of Higgs, W, and Z bosons, the CEPC enables precision measurements and searches for new physics. This white paper outlines the CEPC's discovery potential, including studies of exotic decays of the Higgs, Z, and top quarks, dark matter and dark sector phenomena, long-lived particles, supersymmetry, and neutrino-related signatures. Advanced detector technologies and reconstruction techniques, such as one-to-one correspondence reconstruction and jet origin identification, significantly improve sensitivity to rare and weakly interacting processes. The CEPC is particularly well suited to probe the electroweak phase transition and test models of electroweak baryogenesis and dark sector interactions. In addition, global fit analyses highlight the CEPC's complementary role in constraining a wide range of new physics scenarios. These features position the CEPC as a powerful tool for exploring the next frontier in fundamental particle physics in the post-Higgs discovery era.

hep-ex

Axion-like Dark Matter Search with Space-based Gravitational Wave Detectors

We propose a novel modification to the optical benches of space-based gravitational wave detectors (SGWDs) to enable the detection of axion-like dark matter (ALDM)-induced birefringence without altering the polarization of inter-spacecraft laser links. Our design introduces an auxiliary interferometer to convert polarization modulation into measurable phase shifts. Analytical expressions for sensitivity to the ALDM-photon coupling are derived for various time-delay interferometry (TDI) combinations. Projected sensitivity curves demonstrate complementary coverage across the ALDM mass range $10^{-19}\sim10^{-14}\mathrm{eV}$. This approach preserves the original interferometric stability while enabling new physics capabilities for SGWDs.

hep-ph

Unified Solar Modulation Potential for Same-Charge Cosmic Rays and Implications for Local Interstellar Spectra

The energy spectra of cosmic rays (CRs) below tens of GeV are significantly modulated by solar activity within the heliosphere. To investigate the properties of Galactic CRs, it is important to determine the unmodulated local interstellar spectrum (LIS). Recent high-precision temporal measurements of CR energy spectra, released by the AMS-02 collaboration, provide a crucial observational foundation for this endeavor. In this study, we employ the widely used force-field approximation (FFA) model to analyze the AMS-02 data, and attempt to derive the LIS for CR protons and positrons. By applying a non-LIS method, we derive temporal variations of the relative solar modulation potential, $\Delta\phi$, for individual particle species. Our analysis demonstrates that the FFA provides sufficient accuracy in explaining the AMS-02 spectral measurements of all particles during the low solar activity period. Notably, the derived $\Delta\phi(t)$ for protons and positrons, as well as for electrons and antiprotons, exhibit excellent consistency, indicating that particles with the same charge sign can be effectively described within a unified FFA framework during the low solar activity period. Having established a well-constrained proton LIS and its associated modulation potential, we apply the common modulation behavior between positrons and protons to demodulate the AMS-02 positron measurements, and derive the positron LIS without necessitating prior knowledge of its characteristics. This LIS is useful for quantitative investigations into potential exotic origins of CR positrons.

astro-ph.HE

Constraints on Lorentz-invariance violation in the neutrino sector from the ultrahigh-energy event KM3-230213A

Lorentz invariance is a fundamental symmetry of spacetime and serves as the cornerstone of modern physics, supporting the constancy of the speed of light. A crucial implication of this principle is that no particle can propagate faster than this universal speed limit. In this study, we present a stringent neutrino-based test of Lorentz invariance, utilizing the highest-energy neutrino ever detected, known as event KM3-230213A. The detection of this neutrino, with measured energy of approximately 220 PeV, allows us to establish a lower bound on the scale of second-order Lorentz invariance violation, quantified as \(\Lambda_2>5.0\times 10^{19}\) GeV at 90 \% confidence level.

hep-ph

Exploring Axion-Like Particle from observation of FSRQ Ton 599 by Fermi-LAT

High energy photons traveling through astrophysical magnetic fields have the potential to undergo oscillations with axion-like particles (ALPs), resulting in modifications to the observed photon spectrum. High energy $\gamma-$ray sources with significant magnetic field strengths provide an ideal setting to investigate this phenomenon. Ton 599, a flat spectrum radio quasar with a magnetic field strength on the order of Gauss in its emission region, presents a promising opportunity for studying ALP-photon oscillations. In this study, we analyze the effects of ALP-photon oscillations on the $\gamma$-ray spectrum of Ton 599 as observed by Fermi-LAT. Our investigation considers the potential influences of the broad-line region and dusty torus on the $\gamma-$ray spectrum of Ton 599. We set the constraints on the ALP parameters at the $95\%$ confidence level, and find that the constraints on \(g_{a\gamma}\) can reach approximately \(2 \times 10^{-12}~\mathrm{GeV}^{-1}\) for \(m_a \sim 10^{9}~\mathrm{eV}\).

astro-ph.HE