Search for axion-like particles through nuclear Primakoff production using the GlueX detector
J. R. Pybus, T. Kolar, B. Devkota, P. Sharp, B. Yu, O. Hen, E. Piasetzky, S. N. Santiesteban, A. Schmidt, A. Somov, Y. Soreq, H. Szumila-Vance, C. S. Akondi, C.… 展开作者
J. R. Pybus, T. Kolar, B. Devkota, P. Sharp, B. Yu, O. Hen, E. Piasetzky, S. N. Santiesteban, A. Schmidt, A. Somov, Y. Soreq, H. Szumila-Vance, C. S. Akondi, C. Ayerbe Gayoso, V. V. Berdnikov, H. Bhatt, D. Bhetuwal, M. M. Dalton, A. Deur, R. Dotel, C. Fanelli, J. Guo, T. J. Hague, D. W. Higinbotham, N. D. Hoffman, P. Hurck, I. Jaegle, A. Karki, W. Li, V. Lyubovitskij, H. Marukyan, M. D. McCaughan, M. E. McCracken, S. Oresic, Z. Papandreou, C. Paudel, S. Ratliff, E. M. Seroka, S. Somov, I. Strakovsky, K. Suresh, A. Thiel, B. Zihlmann
We report on the results of the first search for the production of axion-like particles (ALP) via Primakoff production on nuclear targets using the GlueX detector. This search uses an integrated luminosity of 100 pb$^{-1}\cdot$nucleon on a $^{12}$C target, and explores the mass region of 200 < $m_a$ < 450 MeV via the decay $X\rightarrowγγ$. This mass range is between the $π^0$ and $η$ masses, which enables the use of the measured $η$ production rate to obtain absolute bounds on the ALP production with reduced sensitivity to experimental luminosity and detection efficiency. We find no evidence for an ALP, consistent with previous searches in the quoted mass range, and present limits on the coupling on the scale of $O$(1 TeV). We further find that the ALP production limit we obtain is hindered by the peaking structure of the non-target-related dominant background in GlueX, which we treat by using data on $^4$He to estimate and subtract these backgrounds. We comment on how this search can be improved in a future higher-statistics dedicated measurement.
The search for resonant absorption of the Primakoff solar axions by $^{169}$Tm nuclei have been performed. Such an absorption should lead to the excitation of low-lying nuclear energy level: $A+^{169}$Tm $\to ^{169}$Tm$^*$ $\to ^{169}$Tm$ + γ$ (8.41 keV). The Si(Li) detector and $^{169}$Tm target placed inside the low-background setup were used for that purpose. As a result, a new restriction on the axion-photon coupling and axion mass was obtained: $g_{Aγ}({GeV}^{-1})\cdot m_A(eV)\leq1.36\cdot10^{-5}$ (90% c.l.). In model of hadronic axion this restriction corresponds to the upper limit on ax…
We reexamine the inverse Primakoff scattering of axions, whose scattering cross section depends on the distribution of electrons in target atoms. We evaluate it using a form factor computed with a relativistic Hartree-Fock wave function and compare it with the previous results obtained with those based on the screened Coulomb potential for the electrostatic field in the atom. We take xenon as an example for the target atom and show that the scattering cross section was overestimated by more than an order of magnitude for axions with $\lesssim O(10)$ keV energies, like solar axions. It is also …
We explore the sensitivity of photon-beam experiments to axion-like particles (ALPs) with QCD-scale masses whose dominant coupling to the Standard Model is either to photons or gluons. We introduce a novel data-driven method that eliminates the need for knowledge of nuclear form factors or the photon-beam flux when considering coherent Primakoff production off a nuclear target, and show that data collected by the PrimEx experiment could substantially improve the sensitivity to ALPs with $0.03 \lesssim m_a \lesssim 0.3$ GeV. Furthermore, we explore the potential sensitivity of running the GlueX…
Searches for pseudoscalar axion-like-particles (ALPs) typically rely on their decay in beam dumps or their conversion into photons in haloscopes and helioscopes. We point out a new experimental direction for ALP probes through their production via the Primakoff process or Compton-like scattering off of electrons or nuclei. We consider ALPs produced by the intense gamma ray flux available from megawatt-scale nuclear reactors at neutrino experiments through Primakoff-like or Compton-like channels. Low-threshold detectors in close proximity to the core will have visibility to ALP decays and inver…
Reactor neutrino experiments provide a rich environment for the study of axionlike particles (ALPs). Using the intense photon flux produced in the nuclear reactor core, these experiments have the potential to probe ALPs with masses below 10 MeV. We explore the feasibility of these searches by considering ALPs produced through Primakoff and Compton-like processes as well as nuclear transitions. These particles can subsequently interact with the material of a nearby detector via inverse Primakoff and inverse Compton-like scatterings, via axio-electric absorption, or they can decay into photon or…
We present a search for axion-like 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 $a\toγγ$ and $a\toπ^+π^-π^0$ decays, and a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 168 pb$^{-1}$ collected with the GlueX detector. The search for $a\toγγ$ decays is performed in the mass range of $180 < m_a < 480$ MeV, while the search for $a\toπ^+π^-π^0$ decays explores the $600 < m_a < 720$ MeV region. No evidence for a signal is found, and 90% confidence-…
Axion-like particles (ALPs) provide a promising direction in the search for new physics, while a wide range of models incorporate ALPs. We point out that future neutrino experiments, such as DUNE, possess competitive sensitivity to ALP signals. The high-intensity proton beam impinging on a target can not only produce copious amounts of neutrinos, but also cascade photons that are created from charged particle showers stopping in the target. Therefore, ALPs interacting with photons can be produced (often energetically) with high intensity via the Primakoff effect and then leave their signatures…
We propose a novel way to search for the dark photon ($A'$), the axion-like pseudo-scalar ($a$), the dark scalar ($ϕ$), and the light dark matter ($χ$) in the Compton-like processes, $γ+ e^- \rightarrow A'/a/ϕ+ e^-$ with $A'/a/ϕ$ decaying into leptons, photons, or $χ$'s (when permitted) for the mass ranges of $m_{A'/a/ϕ} \leq$ 100 MeV/$c^2$ and $m_χ \leq $ 50 MeV/$c^2$. We examine how the past, current, and future fixed target experiments can use this under-explored production mechanism of dark particles. We show that the existing and planned tagged photon beam fixed-target experiments (GlueX,…
We investigate the 5.49 MeV solar axions flux produced in the $p(d,\, ^{3}{\rm He})a$ reaction and analyze the potential to detect it with the forthcoming large underground neutrino oscillation experiment Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO). The JUNO detector could reveal axions through various processes such as Compton and inverse Primakoff conversion, as well as through their decay into two photons or electron-positron pairs inside the detector. We perform a detailed numerical analysis in order to forecast the sensitivity on different combinations of the axion-electron ($ g_{ae}…
A search for 5.5-MeV solar axions produced in the $p+d\rightarrow\rm{^3He}+A (5.5 \rm{MeV})$ reaction was performed using the Borexino detector. The Compton conversion of axions to photons, ${\rm A}+e\rightarrow e+γ$; the axio-electric effect, ${\rm A}+e+Z\rightarrow e+Z$; the decay of axions into two photons, ${\rm A}\rightarrow2γ$; and inverse Primakoff conversion on nuclei, ${\rm A}+Z\rightarrowγ+Z$, are considered. Model independent limits on axion-electron ($g_{Ae}$), axion-photon ($g_{Aγ}$), and isovector axion-nucleon ($g_{3AN}$) couplings are obtained: $|g_{Ae}\times g_{3AN}| \leq 5.5\…
Solar axion searches with RES-NOVA: projected sensitivity and first prototype limit
Laboratorio Energia Nucleare Applicata（应用核能实验室）；INFN Sezione di Pavia（意大利国家核物理研究所帕维亚分部）；Gran Sasso Science Institute（格兰萨索科学研究所）；INFN Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso（意大利国家核物理研究所格兰萨索国家实验室）；Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Milano - Bicocca（米兰比可卡大学物理系）；INFN Sezione di Milano - Bicocca（意大利国家核物理研究所米兰比可卡分部）；Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, CAS（中国科学院上海陶瓷研究所）
Axions were originally proposed to explain the strong-CP problem in QCD. Through the axion-photon coupling, the Sun could be a major source of axions, which could be measured in solid state detection experiments with enhancements due to coherent Primakoff-Bragg scattering. The Majorana Demonstrator experiment has searched for solar axions with a set of $^{76}$Ge-enriched high purity germanium detectors using a 33 kg-yr exposure collected between Jan. 2017 and Nov. 2019. A temporal-energy analysis gives a new limit on the axion-photon coupling as $g_{aγ}<1.45\times 10^{-9}$ GeV$^{-1}$ (95% C.I.…
A brief review of light dark matter particles and their spectroscopy is presented, specifically aimed at understanding the interaction mechanisms of axion and Axion-Like Particles (ALPs) with matter and an interim proposal and some ideas for possible detection of these evasive particles. In order to venture into the highly challenging spectral regions and extremely weak signals involved with these searches (especially for the DFSZ axions), a different scheme is proposed departing from the conventional resonant cavity mass scan and heterodyne detection methods. We aim to look for a fixed mass a…
The mass of axion dark matter is only weakly bounded by cosmological observations, necessitating a variety of detection techniques over several orders of magnitude of mass ranges. Axions haloscopes based on resonant cavities have become the current standard to search for dark matter axions. Such structures are inherently narrowband and for low masses the volume of the required cavity becomes prohibitively large. Broadband low-mass detectors have already been proposed using inductive magnetometer sensors and a gapped toroidal solenoid magnet. In this work we propose an alternative, which uses e…
Search for Sub-GeV Axion-Like Particles at EBES Pilot Run Using 4 GeV Positron Beam at KEK LINAC
Saga University（佐贺大学）；The University of Tokyo（东京大学）；High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK)（高能加速器研究机构（KEK））；Osaka Metropolitan University（大阪公立大学）；Kyushu University（九州大学）；National Institute of Technology, Niihama College（国立高专新居滨高专）
We update the globular cluster bound on massive ($m_a$ up to a few 100 keV) axion-like particles (ALP) interacting with photons. The production of such particles in the stellar core is dominated by the Primakoff $γ+ Ze\to Ze +a$ and by the photon coalescence process $γ+γ\to a$. The latter, which is predominant at high masses, was not included in previous estimations. Furthermore, we account for the possibility that axions decay inside the stellar core, a non-negligible effect at the masses and couplings we are considering here. Consequently, our result modifies considerably the previous constr…
We propose a novel method to search for axion-like particles (ALPs) at particle accelerator experiments (exps). ALPs produced at the target via the Primakoff effect subsequently enter a region with a magnetic field, where they are converted to photons that are then detected. Dubbed Particle Accelerator helioScopes for Slim Axion-like-particle deTection (PASSAT), our proposal uses the principle of the axion helioscope but replaces ALPs produced in Sun with those produced in a target material. Since we rely on ALP-photon conversions, our proposal probes light (slim) ALPs that are otherwise inacc…
The Majorana Demonstrator experiment operated two modular arrays of p-type point contact high purity germanium (HPGe) detectors, of which 30 kg is enriched to 88% in Ge-76, to search for neutrinoless double beta decay. The data-taking campaign for double beta decay with enriched detectors was successfully concluded in March 2021, and data-taking with natural detectors is still ongoing. The Demonstrator has achieved excellent energy performance in a wide dynamic range covering 1 keV to 10 MeV. The extra-low background level and excellent energy performance achieved by the Demonstrator makes it …
The Cryogenic Dark Matter Search experiment uses low-temperature solid-state detectors to seek Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) and has the world's best exclusion limit on the spin-independent WIMP-nucleon cross section. The experiment uses ionization and athermal phonon signals from particle interactions to discriminate between candidate (nuclear recoil) and background (electron recoil) events with extremely high efficiency. The detectors' low energy threshold for electron recoil events allows us to perform the search for relic axions and solar axions which can interact in the det…
We carried out a model-independent search for light scalar (s) and pseudoscalar axionlike (a) particles that couple to two photons by using the high-energy CERN SPS H4 electron beam. The new particles, if they exist, could be produced through the Primakoff effect in interactions of hard bremsstrahlung photons generated by 100 GeV electrons in the NA64 active dump with virtual photons provided by the nuclei of the dump. The a(s) would penetrate the downstream HCAL module, serving as shielding, and would be observed either through their $a(s)\toγγ$ decay in the rest of the HCAL detector or as ev…
We propose an interferometry experiment for the detection of axion-like particles (ALPs). As in ordinary photon-regeneration (light shining through a wall) experiments, a laser beam traverses a region permeated by a magnetic field, where photons are converted to ALPs via the Primakoff process, resulting in a slight power loss and phase shift. The beam is then combined with a reference beam that originates from the same source. The detection of a change in the output intensity would signal the presence of ALPs (or possibly other particles that couple to the photon in a similar way). Because onl…
Bounds on massive graviton-like particles from searches for axion-like particles coupling to photons
Institut de Física d’Altes Energies (IFAE), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology（高等物理研究所（IFAE），巴塞罗那科学与技术研究院）；CERN, EP Department（欧洲核子研究中心，实验物理部）
Due to the inverse Primakoff effect it has been shown that when axions interact with a DC magnetic B-field the resulting electrical action will produce an AC electromotive force which oscillates at the Compton frequency of the axion, and may be modeled as an oscillating effective impressed magnetic current boundary source. We use this result to calculate the sensitivity of new experiments to low-mass axions using the quasi-static technique. First, we calculate the current induced in an electric dipole antenna (straight conducting wire) when the DC B-field is spatially constant and show that it…
The exploration of long-lived particles in the MeV-GeV region is a formidable task but it may provide us a unique access to dark sectors. Fixed-target facilities with sufficiently energetic and intense proton beams are an ideal tool for this challenge. In this work we show that the production rate of Axion-Like-Particles (ALPs) coupled pre-dominantly to photons receives a significant contribution from daughter-photons of secondary $π^0$ and $η$ mesons created in the proton shower. We carefully compare the PYTHIA simulated spectra of such secondaries to experimental literature, compute the ALP …
With their high beam energy and intensity, existing and near-future proton beam dumps provide an excellent opportunity to search for new very weakly coupled particles in the MeV to GeV mass range. One particularly interesting example is a so-called axion-like particle (ALP), i.e. a pseudoscalar coupled to two photons. The challenge in proton beam dumps is to reliably calculate the production of the new particles from the interactions of two composite objects, the proton and the target atoms. In this work we argue that Primakoff production of ALPs proceeds in a momentum range where production r…
Constraining Axion-Like-Particles with germanium detector at the Kuo-Sheng Reactor Neutrino Laboratory
Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica（中央研究院物理研究所）；Department of Physics, Central University of South Bihar（南比哈尔中央大学物理系）；Department of Physics, Center for Theoretical Physics, and Leung Center for Cosmology and Particle Astrophysics, National Taiwan University（国立台湾大学理论物理中心暨梁氏宇宙学与粒子天体物理学中心物理系）；Physics Division, National Center for Theoretical Sciences, National Taiwan University（国立台湾大学国家理论科学中心物理组）；Department of Physics, Dokuz Eylül University（多库兹埃尤勒大学物理系）；Department of Physics, Tamkang University（淡江大学物理系）；Department of Physics, Institute of Applied Sciences and Humanities, GLA University（GLA大学应用科学与人文学院物理系）；Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University（清华大学工程物理系）；College of Physics, Sichuan University（四川大学物理学院）；Department of Physics, National Dong Hwa University（花莲国立东华大学物理系）
We investigate the feasibility of a high statistics experiment to search for invisible decay modes in nuclear gamma cascades using 200 kg of %36 Cs(Tl) scintillators that are presently available at Texas A\&M. The experiment aims to search for missing energy by robustly establishing the absence of a photon in a well identified gamma cascade. We report on the experimental demonstration of the energy resolution necessary for this search. Prior explorations of this detector concept focused on baryonically coupled physics that could be emitted in $E_2$ transitions. We point out that this protocol …
