Search for an axion-like particle in radiative $J/ψ$ decays
We search for an axion-like particle (ALP) $a$ through the process $ψ(3686)\rightarrowπ^+π^-J/ψ$, $J/ψ\rightarrowγa$, $a\rightarrowγγ$ in a data sample of $(2.71\pm0.01)\times10^9$ $ψ(3686)$ events collected by the BESIII detector. No significant ALP signal is observed over the expected background, and the upper limits on the branching fraction of the decay $J/ψ\rightarrowγa$ and the ALP-photon coupling constant $g_{aγγ}$ are set at 95% confidence level in the mass range of $0.165\leq m_a\leq2.84\,\mbox{GeV}/c^2$. The limits on $B(J/ψ\rightarrowγa)$ range from $8.3\times10^{-8}$ to $1.8\times10^{-6}$ over the search region, and the constraints on the ALP-photon coupling are the most stringent to date for $0.165\leq m_a\leq1.468\,\mbox{GeV}/c^2$.