Search for Axionlike-Particle-Induced Prompt Gamma-Ray Emission from Extragalactic Core-Collapse Supernovae with the Fermi Large Area Telescope

TL;DR

This study searches for gamma-ray signals from axionlike particles produced in extragalactic supernovae using Fermi LAT data, setting new constraints on ALP properties with no detected signals.

Contribution

It provides the first search for ALP-induced gamma rays from extragalactic supernovae and establishes new limits on photon-ALP coupling strength.

Findings

No evidence of gamma-ray bursts from ALPs in supernovae.

Excluded photon-ALP couplings greater than 2.6×10⁻¹¹ GeV⁻¹ for certain ALP masses.

Probability of observing at least one supernova during LAT observations is about 90%.

Abstract

During a core-collapse supernova (SN), axionlike particles (ALPs) could be produced through the Primakoff process and subsequently convert into $\gamma$ rays in the magnetic field of the Milky Way. We do not find evidence for such a $\gamma$-ray burst in observations of extragalactic SNe with the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT). The SN explosion times are estimated from optical light curves and we find a probability of about $\sim$90% that the LAT observed at least one SN at the time of the core collapse. Under the assumption that at least one SN was contained within the LAT field of view, we exclude photon-ALP couplings $\gtrsim 2.6\times10^{-11}$GeV$^{-1}$ for ALP masses $m_a \lesssim 3\times 10^{-10}$ eV, within a factor of $\sim 5$ of previous limits from SN1987A.