Neutrino and axion bounds from the globular cluster M5 (NGC 5904)

2013/11/07 by Nicolás Viaux, Márcio Catelan, Peter B. Stetson +4 · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #astro-ph.SR #astro-ph.CO #hep-ph

paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.111.231301

published as Phys.Rev.Lett. 111 (2013) 231301 · 5 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review Letters

arxiv created 2013/11/07 · arxiv updated 2015/02/02

Abstract

The red-giant branch (RGB) in globular clusters is extended to larger brightness if the degenerate helium core loses too much energy in "dark channels." Based on a large set of archival observations, we provide high-precision photometry for the Galactic globular cluster M5 (NGC 5904), allowing for a detailed comparison between the observed tip of the RGB with predictions based on contemporary stellar evolution theory. In particular, we derive 95% confidence limits of g_ae<4.3×10^-13 on the axion-electron coupling and μ_ν<4.5×10^-12 μ_{\rm B} (Bohr magneton μ_{\rm B}=e/2m_e) on a neutrino dipole moment, based on a detailed analysis of statistical and systematic uncertainties. The cluster distance is the single largest source of uncertainty and can be improved in the future.

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