Constraints on axion-like particles with the Perseus Galaxy Cluster with MAGIC

• Published in: PHYSICS OF THE DARK UNIVERSE Vol. 44; p. 101425
• Main Authors: Abe, H., Abhir, J., Arbet Engels, A., Artero, M., Baack, D., Baquero, A., Barres de Almeida, U., Barrio, J.A., Baxter, J., Becerra González, J., Bednarek, W., Bernete, J., Berti, A., Bigongiari, C., Blanch, O., Bonnoli, G., Carosi, A., Carosi, R., Cikota, S., Colombo, E., Contreras, J.L., Cortina, J., Da Vela, P., De Angelis, A., Delgado, J., Dominis Prester, D., Donini, A., Doro, M., Escudero, J., Fariña, L., Foffano, L., Font, L., Fukami, S., Fukazawa, Y., García López, R.J., Garczarczyk, M., Gasparyan, S., Giesbrecht Paiva, J.G., Giglietto, N., Green, J.G., Inada, T., Jiménez Martínez, I., Jormanainen, J., Kluge, G.W., Kouch, P.M., Láinez Lezáun, M., Lamastra, A., Leone, F., Linhoff, L., Longo, F., López-Moya, M., López-Oramas, A., Lorini, A., Majumdar, P., Mang, N., Manganaro, M., Mannheim, K., Mender, S., Miceli, D., Mirzoyan, R., Mondal, H.A., Morcuende, D., Nava, L., Nickel, L., Nievas Rosillo, M., Noda, K., Nozaki, S., Otero-Santos, J., Paiano, S., Palatiello, M., Paoletti, R., Persic, M., Ribó, M., Righi, C., Saito, T., Satalecka, K., Schleicher, B., Schmidt, K., Schmuckermaier, F., Sciaccaluga, A., Sitarek, J., Sliusar, V., Strom, D., Strzys, M., Suda, Y., Tajima, H., Tavecchio, F., Temnikov, P., Terauchi, K., Tosti, L., Tutone, A., Vazquez Acosta, M., Ventura, S., Verguilov, V., Viale, I., Vigorito, C.F., Vitale, V., Walter, R., Will, M., Yamamoto, T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.05.2024
• Subjects: Axion; Axion-like particles; Galaxy cluster; Gamma rays; Imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes; Gamma rays; Imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes; Galaxy cluster; Axion-like particles; Axion
• ISSN: 2212-6864; 2212-6864
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dark.2024.101425

Axion-like particles (ALPs) are pseudo-Nambu–Goldstone bosons that emerge in various theories beyond the standard model. These particles can interact with high-energy photons in external magnetic fields, influencing the observed gamma-ray spectrum. This study analyzes 41.3 h of observational data from the Perseus Galaxy Cluster collected with the MAGIC telescopes. We focused on the spectra the radio galaxy in the center of the cluster: NGC 1275. By modeling the magnetic field surrounding this target, we searched for spectral indications of ALP presence. Despite finding no statistical evidence of ALP signatures, we were able to exclude ALP models in the sub-micro electronvolt range. Our analysis improved upon previous work by calculating the full likelihood and statistical coverage for all considered models across the parameter space. Consequently, we achieved the most stringent limits to date for ALP masses around 50 neV, with cross sections down to gaγ=3×10−12 GeV−1.