Dark matter constitutes about five times the mass of ordinary matter in the universe, yet it remains elusive as it does not interact with light, rendering it effectively invisible.

Among the leading candidates for dark matter are axions, lightweight hypothetical particles that fit into the Standard Model of particle physics and could potentially unify general relativity with quantum physics.

Neutron stars, formed from the collapse of massive stars, are considered optimal sites for axion production due to their extreme temperatures and strong magnetic fields.

Researchers are focusing on gamma rays produced in the intense magnetic fields around neutron stars, believing this process to be more efficient for detection than those created further away in galaxies.

A team from the University of California, Berkeley, proposes that gamma rays from a nearby supernova could help confirm the mass of axions, potentially solving the mystery of dark matter.

For this research, a suitable supernova event would need to occur within the Milky Way or its satellite galaxies, like the Large Magellanic Cloud, which experiences such explosions every few decades.

The last notable supernova, 1987A, occurred in the Large Magellanic Cloud in 1987, providing a historical reference for potential future observations.

Detection of gamma rays would rely on the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, which has a 10% chance of capturing emissions if a supernova occurs nearby.

The researchers are advocating for a full-sky gamma-ray monitoring system called GALAXIS to ensure that gamma rays from the next supernova are not missed due to inadequate instrumentation.

Their findings, which detail the potential for gamma rays to confirm or rule out the existence of the QCD axion, were published in the journal Physical Review Letters on November 19, 2024.

Benjamin Safdi, the lead author, stated that observing a supernova with modern technology could confirm or rule out the existence of the QCD axion within a mere 10 seconds of the event.

Theoretical work suggests that the upper mass of the QCD axion is likely less than 32 times the mass of the electron, with detection at about 10 billionths of the electron's mass being significant for axion studies.