Axion miniclusters hitting (neutron) stars

by Bradley Kavanagh (IFCA, Santander)

Thursday 10 Dec 2020, 14:00 → 16:00 Europe/Madrid

https://rediris.zoom.us/j/82218912973 (online)

ONLINE Seminar and following discussion on the results of

Transient Radio Signatures from Neutron Star Encounters with QCD Axion Miniclusters https://inspirehep.net/literature/1829443

Stellar Disruption of Axion Miniclusters in the Milky Way https://inspirehep.net/literature/1829442

CONNECTION DETAILS: https://rediris.zoom.us/j/82218912973

Abstract:

Axion miniclusters (AMCs) are relatively dense, gravitationally bound clumps of Dark Matter (DM) axions. AMCs have intriguing observational consequences for Earth-based axion detectors, for DM substructure searches with microlensing, and for radio signatures from AMC encounters with neutron stars (NSs). However, the properties of AMCs in the Milky Way may be drastically altered by tidal interactions with ordinary stars. We present Monte Carlo simulations following the evolution of AMCs orbiting in the Milky Way, which are easily recastable and can be used to estimate the properties of AMCs throughout the Galaxy today. We use this information as a key ingredient in estimating the rate, duration, flux and sky locations of radio signals from axion-photon conversion due to NS encounters with AMCs. The resulting radio transients are within reach of current and future radio telescopes, opening a new avenue for detecting QCD axion DM.