SciPost Phys. Proc. 12, 043 (2023) ·
published 4 July 2023
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Axions and axion-like-particles (ALPs) are well motivated beyond the standard model particles that can explain a variety of unsolved problems in physics, such as the strong CP problem and the nature of dark matter. These particles are characterised by their two-photon coupling, which leads to so-called photon-ALP oscillation as photons propagate through an external magnetic field. Such oscillations lead to characteristic signatures in the energy spectrum of high-energy photons from astrophysical sources, allowing us to probe the existence of ALPs and possibly dark matter. We review the signatures from ALPs in photon spectra and discuss a new method that can be used to directly search for the energy dependence of the oscillations. The focus is on photons at TeV-energies relevant for the upcoming Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA).
