Abstract
We point out that stars in the mass window can serve as sensitive probes of the axion-photon interaction, . Specifically, for these stars axion energy losses from the helium-burning core would shorten and eventually eliminate the blue loop phase of the evolution. This would contradict observational data, since the blue loops are required, e.g., to account for the existence of Cepheid stars. Using the MESA stellar evolution code, modified to include the extra cooling, we conservatively find , which compares favorably with the existing bounds.
- Received 11 October 2012
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.061101
© 2013 American Physical Society
Viewpoint
Particle Physics in the Sky
Published 4 February 2013
Much can be learned about hypothetical particles called axions by studying the evolution of massive stars.
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