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Astroparticle Physics
Abstract:
We determine limits from SN 1987A on massive axionlike particles with masses in the 10 keV–100 MeV range and purely coupled to two photons. Axionlike particles produced in the core collapse escape from the star and decay into photons that can be observed as a delayed and diffuse burst. We discuss the time and angular distribution of such a signal. Looking into the future, we also estimate the possible improvements caused by better gamma-ray detectors or the explosion of the red supergiant Betelgeuse in a supernova event.