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Updated: Jun 22, 2026
11:34
Scattering And Absorption of Light in Planetary Regoliths
Published on: July 1, 2019
Active galactic nuclei shed light on axionlike particles
Clare Burrage1, Anne-Christine Davis, Douglas J Shaw
1Theory Group, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, D-22603 Hamburg, Germany.
Physical Review Letters
|June 13, 2009
Summary
Scientists used scatter in astrophysical object luminosity relations to search for axionlike particles. Analysis of active galactic nuclei suggests the existence of a very light axionlike particle, a potential breakthrough in particle physics.
Area of Science:
- Astrophysics
- Particle Physics
- Cosmology
Background:
- Luminosity relations are crucial for understanding astrophysical objects.
- Axionlike particles are hypothetical particles with potential cosmological implications.
- Scatter in observed data can contain hidden information.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the use of scatter in luminosity relations as a novel method for detecting axionlike particles.
- To investigate active galactic nuclei (AGN) for evidence of these particles.
Main Methods:
- Analyzing the scatter in luminosity relations of astrophysical objects.
- Applying the analysis to observational data from active galactic nuclei.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that luminosity relation scatter is a viable tool for searching for axionlike particles.
- Found compelling evidence suggestive of a very light axionlike particle in AGN observations.
Conclusions:
- The scatter in luminosity relations offers a new avenue for axionlike particle detection.
- The findings strongly suggest the presence of a light axionlike particle, warranting further investigation.
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