Axions and SN1987A

We consider the effect of free -streaming axion emission on numerical models for the cooling of the newly born neutron star associated with SN1987A. We find that for an axion mass of greater than -10-3 eV, axion emission shortens the duration of the expected neutrino burst so significantly that it would be inconsistent with the neutrino observations made by the Kamiokande II (KII) and Irvine -Michigan- Brookhaven (IMB) detectors. However, we have not investigated the possibility that axion trapping (which should occur for masses 20.02 eV) sufficiently reduces axion emission so that axion masses greater than -2 eV would be consistent with the neutrino observations.This title from the Steward Observatory Preprints collection is made available by the Steward Observatory Parker Library and the University Libraries, The University of Arizona. If you have questions about titles in this collection, please contact Parker Library librarian Betty Fridena, bfridena@as.arizona.edu