Constraints on Axionlike Particles from a Hard X-Ray Observation of Betelgeuse

Abstract

We use the first observation of Betelgeuse in hard x rays to perform a novel search for axionlike particles (ALPs). Betelgeuse is not expected to be a standard source of x rays, but light ALPs produced in the stellar core could be converted back into photons in the Galactic magnetic field, producing a detectable flux that peaks in the hard x-ray band (${E}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}>10\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{keV}$). Using a 50 ks observation of Betelgeuse by the NuSTAR satellite telescope, we find no significant excess of events above the expected background. Using models of the regular Galactic magnetic field in the direction of Betelgeuse, we set a 95% C.L. upper limit on the ALP-photon coupling of ${g}_{a\ensuremath{\gamma}}<(0.5--1.8)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}11}\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{GeV}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ (depending on magnetic field model) for ALP masses ${m}_{a}<(5.5--3.5)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}11}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{eV}$.