Probing the general axion-nucleon interaction in water Cherenkov experiments

Abstract We consider an axion flux on Earth consistent with detectability at a Cherenkov-light facility such as the Hyper-Kamiokande neutrino experiment, implying emission from a sufficiently nearby Supernova candidate. Using Chiral Perturbation Theory augmented with an axion, we calculate the energ...

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Main Authors: Maël Cavan-Piton, Diego Guadagnoli, Axel Iohner, Pablo Fernández-Menéndez, Ludovico Vittorio
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-07-01
Series:Journal of High Energy Physics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP07(2025)070
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author Maël Cavan-Piton
Diego Guadagnoli
Axel Iohner
Pablo Fernández-Menéndez
Ludovico Vittorio
author_facet Maël Cavan-Piton
Diego Guadagnoli
Axel Iohner
Pablo Fernández-Menéndez
Ludovico Vittorio
author_sort Maël Cavan-Piton
collection DOAJ
description Abstract We consider an axion flux on Earth consistent with detectability at a Cherenkov-light facility such as the Hyper-Kamiokande neutrino experiment, implying emission from a sufficiently nearby Supernova candidate. Using Chiral Perturbation Theory augmented with an axion, we calculate the energy spectrum of a + N → N + γ as well as a + N → N + π 0, where N denotes a nucleon in the water tank planned for Hyper-Kamiokande. Our calculations assume the most general axion-quark interactions, with couplings constrained either solely by experimental data, or by specific theory scenarios. We find that even for the QCD axion — whose interaction strength with matter is at its weakest as compared with axion-like particles — the expected Cherenkov -light spectrum from neutrino-nucleon interactions is modified in a potentially detectable way. Furthermore, detectability appears significantly more promising for the N + π 0 final state, as its spectrum peaks an order of magnitude higher and at energies twice as large compared to the N + γ counterpart. Given the rarity of SN events where both the neutrino and the hypothetical axion burst are detectable, we emphasize the importance of identifying additional mechanisms that could enhance such signals.
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issn 1029-8479
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spelling doaj-art-ba2d1b1256d8443c92f1a4647b9aaf992025-08-20T04:01:43ZengSpringerOpenJournal of High Energy Physics1029-84792025-07-012025712610.1007/JHEP07(2025)070Probing the general axion-nucleon interaction in water Cherenkov experimentsMaël Cavan-Piton0Diego Guadagnoli1Axel Iohner2Pablo Fernández-Menéndez3Ludovico Vittorio4LAPTh, Université Savoie Mont-Blanc et CNRSLAPTh, Université Savoie Mont-Blanc et CNRSLAPTh, Université Savoie Mont-Blanc et CNRSDonostia International Physics Center DIPCLAPTh, Université Savoie Mont-Blanc et CNRSAbstract We consider an axion flux on Earth consistent with detectability at a Cherenkov-light facility such as the Hyper-Kamiokande neutrino experiment, implying emission from a sufficiently nearby Supernova candidate. Using Chiral Perturbation Theory augmented with an axion, we calculate the energy spectrum of a + N → N + γ as well as a + N → N + π 0, where N denotes a nucleon in the water tank planned for Hyper-Kamiokande. Our calculations assume the most general axion-quark interactions, with couplings constrained either solely by experimental data, or by specific theory scenarios. We find that even for the QCD axion — whose interaction strength with matter is at its weakest as compared with axion-like particles — the expected Cherenkov -light spectrum from neutrino-nucleon interactions is modified in a potentially detectable way. Furthermore, detectability appears significantly more promising for the N + π 0 final state, as its spectrum peaks an order of magnitude higher and at energies twice as large compared to the N + γ counterpart. Given the rarity of SN events where both the neutrino and the hypothetical axion burst are detectable, we emphasize the importance of identifying additional mechanisms that could enhance such signals.https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP07(2025)070Axions and ALPsChiral LagrangianNeutrino Interactions
spellingShingle Maël Cavan-Piton
Diego Guadagnoli
Axel Iohner
Pablo Fernández-Menéndez
Ludovico Vittorio
Probing the general axion-nucleon interaction in water Cherenkov experiments
Journal of High Energy Physics
Axions and ALPs
Chiral Lagrangian
Neutrino Interactions
title Probing the general axion-nucleon interaction in water Cherenkov experiments
title_full Probing the general axion-nucleon interaction in water Cherenkov experiments
title_fullStr Probing the general axion-nucleon interaction in water Cherenkov experiments
title_full_unstemmed Probing the general axion-nucleon interaction in water Cherenkov experiments
title_short Probing the general axion-nucleon interaction in water Cherenkov experiments
title_sort probing the general axion nucleon interaction in water cherenkov experiments
topic Axions and ALPs
Chiral Lagrangian
Neutrino Interactions
url https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP07(2025)070
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AT pablofernandezmenendez probingthegeneralaxionnucleoninteractioninwatercherenkovexperiments
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