Light Pseudoscalar Bosons, PVLAS and the Double Pulsar J0737-3039
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Light Pseudoscalar Bosons (LPBs) coupled to two photons are predicted by many realistic extensions of the Standard Model and give rise to birefringence and dichroism in a light beam travelling in an external magnetic field. These effects have recently been detected by the PVLAS collaboration, thereby strongly suggesting the existence of a LPB. We provide an astrophysical cross-check for such a claim. Actually, we show that in the double pulsar J0737-3039 photon-LPB conversion can give rise to a characteristic attenuation pattern of the light beam emitted by one of the pulsars when it goes through the magnetosphere of the companion. The effect under consideration shows up in the $γ$-ray band and can be detected by the upcoming GLAST mission.
Talk given by M. R. at the "Neutrino Oscillation Workshop" (to appear in the Proceedings)
Talk given by M. R. at the "Neutrino Oscillation Workshop" (to appear in the Proceedings)