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Updated: Aug 28, 2025
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X-ray Beam Induced Current Measurements for Multi-Modal X-ray Microscopy of Solar Cells
Published on: August 20, 2019
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First Indirect Detection Constraints on Axions in the Solar Basin
William DeRocco1, Shalma Wegsman2, Brian Grefenstette3
1Santa Cruz Institute for Particle Physics, University of California, Santa Cruz, California 95062, USA.
Physical Review Letters
|September 16, 2022
Summary
Researchers have set the first limits on a solar basin of axions (hypothetical particles) using NuSTAR telescope data. This study provides world-leading constraints on axion properties, impacting astrophysics and particle physics.
Area of Science:
- Particle Physics
- Astrophysics
- Cosmology
Background:
- Axions are hypothetical particles that could be produced in the Sun's core.
- A fraction of these axions may become trapped in bound orbits within the Sun, forming a 'solar basin'.
- These trapped axions can decay into two photons, creating a detectable signal.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish the first observational limits on the solar basin of axions.
- To investigate the potential for detecting axions using solar observations.
- To constrain axion properties, specifically their mass and coupling strength.
Main Methods:
- Utilized recent quiescent solar observations from the NuSTAR x-ray telescope.
- Developed and compared three distinct methodologies for setting constraints on axion properties.
- Analyzed the x-ray data for signatures consistent with axion decay to photons.
Main Results:
- Achieved world-leading limits for axions with masses in the 5-30 keV range.
- Improved upon existing stellar cooling bounds by over an order of magnitude in coupling strength.
- Demonstrated the feasibility of using solar observations to constrain axion physics.
Conclusions:
- The study successfully placed the first limits on the solar basin of axions.
- NuSTAR observations provide a powerful new tool for probing axion physics.
- The results significantly advance our understanding of axion properties and their potential astrophysical implications.
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