Axion-like particles and high-energy gamma rays: interconversion revisited

Axion-like particles (ALPs) are hypothetical entities often invoked to solve various problems in particle physics to cosmology. They are one of the most promising candidates to explain the elusive dark matter. A way to search for ALPs is through their effects on photons. In the presence of external magnetic fields, ALPs and photons can convert into one another, leading to measurable signals. In this contribution we present results of Monte Carlo simulations of ALP-photon interconversion in magnetised environments. We focus on high-energy gamma rays with TeV energies travelling over cosmological distances. We include a full treatment of the intergalactic electromagnetic cascades triggered by the gamma rays. Finally, we discuss the impact of this improved treatment of the propagation for current and future ALP searches.Comment: Presented at the 38th International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC2023