Solar neutrino limit on axions and keV-mass bosons

TL;DR

This paper uses solar neutrino measurements to set new limits on the interaction strength of low-mass particles like axions and keV-mass bosons, improving constraints on their properties.

Contribution

It provides the first constraints on axion-photon coupling and keV-mass bosons based on solar neutrino flux measurements, surpassing previous helioseismological bounds.

Findings

Limit on axion-photon coupling: g_aγ < 7×10^{-10} 1/GeV

Constraints on Yukawa couplings for keV-mass bosons

Solar neutrino flux constrains nonstandard energy losses

Abstract

The all-flavor solar neutrino flux measured by the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO) constrains nonstandard energy losses to less than about 10% of the Sun's photon luminosity, superseding a helioseismological argument and providing new limits on the interaction strength of low-mass particles. For the axion-photon coupling strength we find g_a\gamma < 7E-10 1/GeV. We also derive explicit limits on the Yukawa coupling to electrons of pseudoscalar, scalar and vector bosons with keV-scale masses.