Searching for axions with time resolved pulsar polarimetry

TL;DR

This paper explores how time-resolved pulsar polarimetry, specifically of the Crab pulsar, can be used to detect axions via their effect on polarization, setting new bounds on axion-photon coupling.

Contribution

It demonstrates the potential of using pulsar birefringence measurements to search for axions and places bounds on axion-photon coupling using optical polarization data.

Findings

Placed bounds on axion-photon coupling from Crab pulsar polarization data.

Showed that pulsar birefringence can be a viable method to detect axions.

Highlighted the potential of time-resolved polarimetry in axion searches.

Abstract

Pulsars possess strong dipole magnetic fields that can source axion fields through the axion-photon interaction. Pulsars may therefore be surrounded by axion field configurations oscillating with the pulsar's rotational period. These axions could be detected by observing their effect on the polarization of the pular's emission. In this paper, we use time resolved observations of the optical polarization of the Crab pulsar to place bounds on the axion-photon coupling, demonstrating the potential of time resolved pulsar birefringence in the search for axions.