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Title: Axion mass limits from pulsar x rays

Abstract

Axions thermally emitted by a neutron star would be converted into x rays in the strong magnetic field surrounding the star. An improvement in the observational upper limit of pulsed x rays from the Vela pulsar (PSR 0833-45) by a factor of 12 would constrain the axion mass M/sub a/ < 2 x 10/sup -3/eV if the core is non-superfluid and at temperature T/sub c/ greater than or equal to 2 x 10/sup 8/K. If the core is superfluid throughout, an improvement factor of 240 would be needed to provide the same constraint on the axion mass, while in the absence of superfluidity, an improvement factor of 200 could constrain M/sub a/ < 6 x 10/sup -4/eV. A search for modulated hard x rays from PSR 1509-58 or other young pulsars at presently attainable sensitivities may enable the setting of an upper limit for the axion mass. Observation of hard x rays from a very young hot pulsar with T/sub c/ greater than or equal to 7 x 10/sup 8/K could set a firm bound on the axion mass, since neutron superfluidity is not expected above this temperature. The remaining axion mass range 6 x 10/sup -4/eV > M/sub a/more » > 10/sup -5/eV (the cosmological lower bound) can be covered by an improved Sikivie type laboratory cavity detector for relic axions constituting the galactic halo. 48 refs.« less

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
5939761
Report Number(s):
LBL-18690
ON: DE85010634
DOE Contract Number:  
AC03-76SF00098
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS; 71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; AXIONS; NEUTRON STARS; X RADIATION; PULSARS; COSMOLOGY; LIMITING VALUES; LUMINOSITY; MASS; SUPERFLUIDITY; BOSONS; COSMIC RADIO SOURCES; ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION; ELEMENTARY PARTICLES; GOLDSTONE BOSONS; IONIZING RADIATIONS; OPTICAL PROPERTIES; PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; POSTULATED PARTICLES; RADIATIONS; STARS; 645201* - High Energy Physics- Particle Interactions & Properties-Theoretical- General & Scattering Theory; 640106 - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Cosmology; 640103 - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Quasi-Stellar, Radio, & X-Ray Sources- (-1987)

Citation Formats

Morris, D E. Axion mass limits from pulsar x rays. United States: N. p., 1984. Web. doi:10.2172/5939761.
Morris, D E. Axion mass limits from pulsar x rays. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/5939761
Morris, D E. 1984. "Axion mass limits from pulsar x rays". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/5939761. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/5939761.
@article{osti_5939761,
title = {Axion mass limits from pulsar x rays},
author = {Morris, D E},
abstractNote = {Axions thermally emitted by a neutron star would be converted into x rays in the strong magnetic field surrounding the star. An improvement in the observational upper limit of pulsed x rays from the Vela pulsar (PSR 0833-45) by a factor of 12 would constrain the axion mass M/sub a/ < 2 x 10/sup -3/eV if the core is non-superfluid and at temperature T/sub c/ greater than or equal to 2 x 10/sup 8/K. If the core is superfluid throughout, an improvement factor of 240 would be needed to provide the same constraint on the axion mass, while in the absence of superfluidity, an improvement factor of 200 could constrain M/sub a/ < 6 x 10/sup -4/eV. A search for modulated hard x rays from PSR 1509-58 or other young pulsars at presently attainable sensitivities may enable the setting of an upper limit for the axion mass. Observation of hard x rays from a very young hot pulsar with T/sub c/ greater than or equal to 7 x 10/sup 8/K could set a firm bound on the axion mass, since neutron superfluidity is not expected above this temperature. The remaining axion mass range 6 x 10/sup -4/eV > M/sub a/ > 10/sup -5/eV (the cosmological lower bound) can be covered by an improved Sikivie type laboratory cavity detector for relic axions constituting the galactic halo. 48 refs.},
doi = {10.2172/5939761},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5939761}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1984},
month = {Sat Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1984}
}