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New CAST limit on the axion–photon interaction
Nature Physics · 2017 · Vol. 13(6) · pp. 584–590
V. Anastassopoulos✉(University of Patras)K. Zioutas(University of Patras)A. Gardikiotis(University of Patras)Marios Maroudas(University of Patras)T. Papaevangelou(Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives)I. Giomataris(Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives)E. Ferrer-Ribas(Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives)S. Aune(Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives)K. Barth(European Organization for Nuclear Research)T. Vafeiadis(European Organization for Nuclear Research)M. Davenport(European Organization for Nuclear Research)S. Kostoglou(European Organization for Nuclear Research) I. Ortega(Universidad de Zaragoza)L. Stewart(European Organization for Nuclear Research)K. Zioutas(University of Patras) J. M. Laurent(European Organization for Nuclear Research)A. Dermenev(Institute for Nuclear Research)А. С. Белов(Institute for Nuclear Research)S. Gninenko(Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives)H. Bräuninger(Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics)M. Karuza(University of Rijeka)G. Cantatore(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Trieste)J.G. Garza(Universidad de Zaragoza)E. N. Gazis(Universidad de Zaragoza) J. F. Castel(Universidad de Zaragoza)J. M. Carmona(Universidad de Zaragoza) I. Ortega (Universidad de Zaragoza)Elisa Ruiz-Chóliz(Universidad de Zaragoza)G. Luzón(Universidad de Zaragoza)T. Dafní(Universidad de Zaragoza)F.J. Iguaz(Universidad de Zaragoza)I.G. Irastorza(Universidad de Zaragoza) S. C. Yildiz(Istanbul Bilgi University)S. A. Cetin (Istanbul Bilgi University)Finn E. Christensen(Technical University of Denmark)Anders C. Jakobsen(Technical University of Denmark)J. I. Collar(Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory) M. J. Pivovaroff(Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory) J. K. Vogel(Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory)J. Ruz(Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory)T. A. Decker(Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory)Ch. Krieger(University of Bonn)J. Kamiński(University of Bonn)K. Desch(University of Bonn)Sebastian Schmidt(University of Bonn)A. Liolios(Aristotle University of Thessaloniki)I. Savvidis(Aristotle University of Thessaloniki)K. Paraschou(Aristotle University of Thessaloniki)C. Eleftheriadis(Aristotle University of Thessaloniki)G. Fanourakis(National Centre of Scientific Research "Demokritos")T. Geralis(National Centre of Scientific Research "Demokritos")H. Fischer(University of Freiburg)M. J. Pivovaroff(National Technical University of Athens)C. J. Hailey(Columbia University)M. D. Hasinoff(University of British Columbia)D. H. H. Hoffmann(Technische Universität Darmstadt)S. Neff(Technische Universität Darmstadt)M. Rosu(Technische Universität Darmstadt)J. Jacoby(Goethe University Frankfurt)A. Ljubičić(Ruđer Bošković Institute)B. Lakić(Ruđer Bošković Institute)K. Jakovčić(Ruđer Bošković Institute)M. Krčmar(Ruđer Bošković Institute)Nenad Kralj(University of Rijeka)M. Karuza(University of Rijeka)L. Miceli(Institute for Basic Science) Y. K. Semertzidis(Institute for Basic Science)Georg G. Raffelt(Max Planck Institute for Physics)S. K. Solanki(Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research)
Abstract
Hypothetical low-mass particles, such as axions, provide a compelling explanation for the dark matter in the universe. Such particles are expected to emerge abundantly from the hot interior of stars. To test this prediction, the CERN Axion Solar Telescope (CAST) uses a 9 T refurbished Large Hadron Collider test magnet directed towards the Sun. In the strong magnetic field, solar axions can be converted to X-ray photons which can be recorded by X-ray detectors. In the 2013–2015 run, thanks to low-background detectors and a new X-ray telescope, the signal-to-noise ratio was increased by about a factor of three. Here, we report the best limit on the axion–photon coupling strength (0.66 × 10−10 GeV−1 at 95% confidence level) set by CAST, which now reaches similar levels to the most restrictive astrophysical bounds. Axions are hypothetical light particles that could explain the dark matter. They could be produced in the interior of the Sun and the CERN Axion Solar Telescope sets the best limit on how strongly axions can interact with light.
Dark Matter and Cosmic PhenomenaCosmology and Gravitation TheoriesParticle physics theoretical and experimental studiesPhysicsAxionLimit (mathematics)PhotonQuantum electrodynamicsTheoretical physicsParticle physicsQuantum mechanicsDark matter
Funding
- National Science Foundation
- U.S. Department of Energy
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Türkiye Atom Enerjisi Kurumu
- CERN
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
- Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad
- General Secretariat for Research and Technology
- Hrvatska Zaklada za Znanost
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
- European Regional Development Fund
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
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949
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References
Revisiting the SN1987A gamma-ray limit on ultralight axion-like particles
Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics · 2015 · 388 citations
MICROMEGAS: a high-granularity position-sensitive gaseous detector for high particle-flux environments
Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A Accelerators Spectrometers Detectors and Associated Equipment · 1996 · 1,171 citations
THE<i>NUCLEAR SPECTROSCOPIC TELESCOPE ARRAY</i>(<i>NuSTAR</i>) HIGH-ENERGY X-RAY MISSION
The Astrophysical Journal · 2013 · 2,148 citations
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