Speaker
Description
Axion-like particles (ALPs), theoretical extension of the QCD axion, are some of the numerous candidates for constituting dark matter. Several theoretical and experimental efforts aim to probe and constrain their properties, namely mass and potential coupling to standard model particles. Among these, assuming coupling with photons, the low-mass ALPs range, viz. m_{ALP} < 10^{-6} eV, could be explored through gamma-ray observations. In fact, gamma rays propagating in spaces permeated by cosmic magnetic fields could oscillate into ALPs, and viceversa. This effect could alter the gamma-ray fluxes emitted by different classes of sources before, actually, reaching our observatories. Furthermore, gamma rays could interact with soft background photons along their path, initiating electromagnetic cascades. A new implementation to account for ALP-gamma ray coupling within the CRPropa Monte Carlo simulation framework is presented. Its potential in predicting hints of ALPs in gamma-ray fluxes lies in the detailed modeling of astrophysical environments and the processes in play. Hence, the propagation of gamma rays over disparate astrophysical environments, in particular the extragalactic and the galactic ones, is consistently treated in the scenario of ALP-photon oscillation. In this talk, we present preliminary results using the new tool, paving the way for a discussion on the impact of this refined simulations for current and future investigations on ALPs through GeV-TeV gamma rays.
