Constraining Axion-Like Particles from observations of AGN B2 2234+28A and 3C 454.3

Abstract

Axion-photon oscillation effect provides a possible explanation for the presence of very-high-energy (VHE) $\gamma$-ray signals from distant sources. In this work, we propose a model-dependent method to select possible sources that may give sufficient constraints on the axion parameters. We investigate such effect in the spectra of active galactic nuclei (AGN) B2 2234+28A and 3C 454.3 based on data obtained from Fermi Large Area Telescope (Fermi-LAT) and MAGIC U.L. We utilize the Markov Chain Monte Carlo method to fit the axion parameters, yielding a result of $g_{a\gamma }=3.05_{-0.31}^{+0.51}\times 10^{-11}$ GeV${}^{-1}$ for the axion-photon coupling strength and $m_a=5.25_{-2.65}^{+2.35}\times 10^{-8}$ eV for the axion mass. We also perform 95\% confidence level (CL) constraints to set an upper limit for $g_{a\gamma }$.

Comments: 11 pages, 10 figures, 1 table