Axion-photon conversion in strongly magnetised plasmas

Understand

Axion dark matter can resonantly convert to photons in the magnetosphere of neutron stars, possibly giving rise to radio signals observable on Earth.

• This method for the indirect detection of axion dark matter has recently received significant attention in the literature.
• The calculation of the radio signal is complicated by a number of effects; most importantly, the gravitational infall of the axions onto the neutron star accelerates them to semi-relativistic speed, and the neutron star magnetosphere is highly anisotropic.
• Both of these factors complicate the calculation of the conversion of axions to photons.