Speaker
Marco Roncadelli
(PV)
Description
Axion-like particles (ALPs) are quite similar to the axion and are
predicted by several extensions of the Standard Models, especially by
superstring theories. However, at variance with the axion, they couple
only to two photons, and this fact makes them quite elusive. Yet,
since 2007 it has been recognized that they can play a crucial role
in high-energy astrophysics. This talk reports some results that have
been obtained in this field, and especially some hints of their
existence arising from the fact that they solve some observed
anomalies. The possibility that they are cold dark matter candidates
is stressed, along with the fact that for the model parameters
required by the above hints they can be detected at ALPS II and IAXO.
