Axions around extreme compact objects

by Sam Witte (University of Oxford)

Wednesday 15 May 2024, 14:30 → 16:30 Europe/Berlin

seminar room 2 (bldg. 2a)

Axions, hypothetical low-energy particles that are often introduced to resolve open problems in particle physics and cosmology, represent one of the most well-motivated targets in searches for physics beyond the Standard Model. In this talk I will demonstrate how extreme compact objects, in particular neutron stars and black holes, naturally host environments capable of producing striking signatures of these elusive particles. These indirect searches have a strong complementarity with on-going and future laboratory experiments, and will play a key role in the hunt for axions over the coming decade.