White dwarfs as a probe of exceptionally light QCD axions
Reuven Balkin, Javi Serra, Konstantin Springmann, Stefan Stelzl, Andreas Weiler
Abstract
We study the effects of exceptionally light QCD axions on the stellar configuration of white dwarfs. At finite baryon density, the nonderivative coupling of the axion to nucleons displaces the axion from its in-vacuum minimum, which implies a reduction of the nucleon mass. This dramatically alters the composition of stellar remnants. In particular, the modifications of the mass-radius relationship of white dwarfs allow us to probe large regions of unexplored parameter space without requiring that axions are dark matter. Published by the American Physical Society 2024
Topics & Concepts
AxionPhysicsWhite dwarfParticle physicsAstrophysicsNucleonQuantum chromodynamicsDark matterCoupling (piping)BaryonAstronomyStarsMechanical engineeringEngineeringPulsars and Gravitational Waves ResearchDark Matter and Cosmic PhenomenaCosmology and Gravitation Theories