We present a search for axionlike particles, $a$, produced in photon-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of approximately 4 GeV, focusing on the scenario where the $a$-gluon coupling is dominant. The search uses $a\to \gamma \gamma$ and $a\to {\pi }^{+}{\pi }^{-}{\pi }^0$ decays, and a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $168{\mathrm{pb}}^{-1}$ collected with the GlueX detector. The search for $a\to \gamma \gamma$ decays is performed in the mass range of $180<m_a<480\mathrm{MeV}$, while the search for $a\to {\pi }^{+}{\pi }^{-}{\pi }^0$ decays explores the $600<m_a<720\mathrm{MeV}$ region. No evidence for a signal is found, and 90% confidence-level exclusion limits are placed on the $a$-gluon coupling strength. These constraints are the most stringent to date over much of the mass ranges considered.

• Received 1 October 2021
• Accepted 25 February 2022

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.105.052007

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Published by the American Physical Society