New solar axion search in CAST with $^4$He filling
M. Arik, S. Aune, K. Barth, A. Belov, H. Bräuninger, J. Bremer, V. Burwitz, G. Cantatore, J. M. Carmona, S. A. Cetin, J. I. Collar, E. Da Riva, T. Dafni, M. Da… 展开作者
M. Arik, S. Aune, K. Barth, A. Belov, H. Bräuninger, J. Bremer, V. Burwitz, G. Cantatore, J. M. Carmona, S. A. Cetin, J. I. Collar, E. Da Riva, T. Dafni, M. Davenport, A. Dermenev, C. Eleftheriadis, N. Elias, G. Fanourakis, E. Ferrer-Ribas, J. Galán, J. A. García, A. Gardikiotis, J. G. Garza, E. N. Gazis, T. Geralis, E. Georgiopoulou, I. Giomataris, S. Gninenko, M. Gómez Marzoa, M. D. Hasinoff, D. H. H. Hoffmann, F. J. Iguaz, I. G. Irastorza, J. Jacoby, K. Jakovčić, M. Karuza, M. Kavuk, M. Krčmar, M. Kuster, B. Lakić, J. M. Laurent, A. Liolios, A. Ljubičić, G. Luzón, S. Neff, T. Niinikoski, A. Nordt, I. Ortega, T. Papaevangelou, M. J. Pivovaroff, G. Raffelt A. Rodríguez, M. Rosu, J. Ruz, I. Savvidis, I. Shilon, S. K. Solanki, L. Stewart, A. Tomás, T. Vafeiadis, J. Villar, J. K. Vogel, S. C. Yildiz, K. Zioutas
The CERN Axion Solar Telescope (CAST) searches for $a\toγ$ conversion in the 9 T magnetic field of a refurbished LHC test magnet that can be directed toward the Sun. Two parallel magnet bores can be filled with helium of adjustable pressure to match the X-ray refractive mass $m_γ$ to the axion search mass $m_a$. After the vacuum phase (2003--2004), which is optimal for $m_a\lesssim0.02$ eV, we used $^4$He in 2005--2007 to cover the mass range of 0.02--0.39 eV and $^3$He in 2009--2011 to scan from 0.39--1.17 eV. After improving the detectors and shielding, we returned to $^4$He in 2012 to investigate a narrow $m_a$ range around 0.2 eV ("candidate setting" of our earlier search) and 0.39--0.42 eV, the upper axion mass range reachable with $^4$He, to "cross the axion line" for the KSVZ model. We have improved the limit on the axion-photon coupling to $g_{aγ}< 1.47\times10^{-10} {\rm
GeV}^{-1}$ (95% C.L.), depending on the pressure settings. Since 2013, we have returned to vacuum and aim for a significant increase in sensitivity.
本文介绍了欧洲核子研究中心(CERN)的轴子太阳望远镜(CAST)和轴子暗物质实验(ADMX)的研究结果,并简要评述了利用各种实验技术进行轴子搜索的前景。CAST已经探索了高达0.64 eV的质量,对轴子-光子耦合设置了最严格的限制,除了ADMX是最具竞争力的实验的微eV区域。CAST的目标是超过1 eV WMAP的上限,并可能使用额外灵敏的X射线探测器重新审视真空中的操作,而ADMX使用改进的额外灵敏的SQUID放大器将探索微电子伏特的质量范围。
The CAST-CAPP axion haloscope, operating at CERN inside the CAST dipole magnet, has searched for axions in the 19.74 $μ$eV to 22.47 $μ$eV mass range. The detection concept follows the Sikivie haloscope principle, where Dark Matter axions convert into photons within a resonator immersed in a magnetic field. The CAST-CAPP resonator is an array of four individual rectangular cavities inserted in a strong dipole magnet, phase-matched to maximize the detection sensitivity. Here we report on the data acquired for 4124 h from 2019 to 2021. Each cavity is equipped with a fast frequency tuning mechanis…
The Relic Axion Detector Experimental Setup (RADES) is an axion search project that uses a microwave filter as resonator for Dark Matter conversion. The main focus of this publication is the description of the 3 different cavity prototypes of RADES. The result of the first tests of one of the prototypes is also presented. The filters consist of 5 or 6 stainless steel sub-cavities joined by rectangular irises. The size of the sub-cavities determines the working frequency, the amount of sub-cavities determine the working volume. The first cavity prototype was built in 2017 to work at a frequency…
During 2003--2015, the CERN Axion Solar Telescope (CAST) has searched for $a\toγ$ conversion in the 9 T magnetic field of a refurbished LHC test magnet that can be directed toward the Sun. In its final phase of solar axion searches (2013--2015), CAST has returned to evacuated magnet pipes, which is optimal for small axion masses. The absence of a significant signal above background provides a world leading limit of $g_{aγ} < 0.66 \times 10^{-10} {\rm GeV}^{-1}$ (95% C.L.) on the axion-photon coupling strength for $m_a \lesssim 0.02$ eV. Compared with the first vacuum phase (2003--2004), the se…
The most compelling candidates for Dark Matter to day are WIMPs and axions. The applicability of gasesous Time Projection Chambers (TPCs) with Micromesh Gas Structures (Micromegas) to the search of these particles is explored within this work. Both particles would produce an extremely low rate at very low energies in particle detectors. Micromegas detectors can provide both low background rates and low en- ergy threshold, due to the high granularity, radiopurity and uniformity of the readout. Small (few cm wide) Micromegas detectors are used to image the axion-induced x-ray signal expected in …
We present results of the Relic Axion Dark-Matter Exploratory Setup (RADES), a detector which is part of the CERN Axion Solar Telescope (CAST), searching for axion dark matter in the 34.67$μ$eV mass range. A radio frequency cavity consisting of 5 sub-cavities coupled by inductive irises took physics data inside the CAST dipole magnet for the first time using this filter-like haloscope geometry. An exclusion limit with a 95% credibility level on the axion-photon coupling constant of g$_{aγ}\gtrsim 4\times10^{-13} \text{GeV}^{-1}$ over a mass range of 34.6738 $μ$eV < $m_a$ < 34.6771 $μ$eV is set…
Lowering the background level and the energy threshold of Micromegas x-ray detectors for axion searches
轴子太阳窥镜通过在强磁场中转换为x射线来寻找太阳轴子。使用低背景X射线探测器是提高这些搜索灵敏度的一个重要组成部分。本文综述了用于欧洲核子研究中心(CERN)轴子太阳望远镜(CAST)和未来国际轴子天文台(IAXO)的Micromegas探测器的最新进展。CAST中的实际设置已实现低于10 $^{-6}$ keV $^{-1}$ cm $^{-2}$ s $^{-1}$的本底水平,比第一代Micromegas探测器低100倍。这种减少是基于主动和被动屏蔽技术,选择放射纯材料,离线歧视技术和读出的高粒度。我们详细描述的背景模型的检测器,其操作的基础上在CAST网站和Canfranc地下实验室(LSC),以及Geant 4模拟。目前在LSC达到的最佳水平低于10 $^{-7}$ keV $^{-1}$ cm $^{-2}$ s $^{-1}$,并显示出该技术在IAO中应用的良好前景。最后,我们提出了一些想法和结果,降低这些探测器的能量阈值低于1千电子伏,使用高透明的窗口,自动触发电子学和研究在不同的能量的集群形状。由于在这个能量范围内预期会有高通量的类轴子粒子,亚千电子伏阈值探测器可以扩大轴子太阳镜的物理情况。
As part of the T-REX project, a number of R&D and prototyping activities have been carried out during the last years to explore the applicability of Micromegas-read gaseous TPCs in rare event searches like double beta decay (DBD), axion research and low-mass WIMP searches. While in the companion paper we focus on DBD, in this paper we focus on the results regarding the search for dark matter candidates, both axions and WIMPs. Small ultra-low background Micromegas detectors are used to image the x-ray signal expected in axion helioscopes like CAST at CERN. Background levels as low as $0.8\times…
We discuss the physics case for and the concept of a medium-scale axion helioscope with sensitivities in the axion-photon coupling a few times better than CERN Axion Solar Telescope (CAST). Search for an axion-like particle with these couplings is motivated by several persistent astrophysical anomalies. We present early conceptual design, existing infrastructure, projected sensitivity and timeline of such a helioscope (Troitsk Axion Solar Telescope Experiment, TASTE) to be constructed in the Institute for Nuclear Research, Troitsk, Russia. The proposed instrument may be also used for the searc…
RADES (Relic Axion Detector Exploratory Setup) is a project with the goal of directly searching for axion dark matter above the $30 μ$eV scale employing custom-made microwave filters in magnetic dipole fields. Currently RADES is taking data at the LHC dipole of the CAST experiment. In the long term, the RADES cavities are envisioned to take data in the (baby)-IAXO magnet. In this article we report on the modelling, building and characterisation of an optimised microwave-filter design with alternating irises that exploits maximal coupling to axions while being scalable in length without sufferi…
We report on a new search for solar chameleons with the CERN Axion Solar Telescope (CAST). A GridPix detector was used to search for soft X-ray photons in the energy range from 200 eV to 10 keV from converted solar chameleons. No signiffcant excess over the expected background has been observed in the data taken in 2014 and 2015. We set an improved limit on the chameleon photon coupling, $β_γ< 5.7\times10^{10}$ for $1<β_\mathrm{m}<10^6$ at 95% C.L. improving our previous results by a factor two and for the first time reaching sensitivity below the solar luminosity bound for tachocline magnetic…
We report on a first measurement with a sensitive opto-mechanical force sensor designed for the direct detection of coupling of real chameleons to matter. These dark energy candidates could be produced in the Sun and stream unimpeded to Earth. The KWISP detector installed on the CAST axion search experiment at CERN looks for tiny displacements of a thin membrane caused by the mechanical effect of solar chameleons. The displacements are detected by a Michelson interferometer with a homodyne readout scheme. The sensor benefits from the focusing action of the ABRIXAS X-ray telescope installed at …
Fabrication status and expected performance of the inner-core X-ray optic for BabyIAXO
Columbia University(哥伦比亚大学);Technical University of Denmark(丹麦技术大学);CHEXS;University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill(北卡罗来纳大学教堂山分校);TU Dortmund University(多特蒙德工业大学)