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New CAST limit on the axion–photon interaction

Journal Article · · Nature Physics
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys4109· OSTI ID:1399719
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.
Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Contributing Organization:
CAST Collaboration
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-07NA27344
OSTI ID:
1399719
Report Number(s):
LLNL--JRNL-727500
Journal Information:
Nature Physics, Journal Name: Nature Physics Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 13; ISSN 1745-2473
Publisher:
Nature Publishing Group (NPG)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Search for gamma-ray spectral modulations in Galactic pulsars journal April 2018
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First axion dark matter search with toroidal geometry journal September 2017
Window for preferred axion models journal October 2017
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New bounds on axionlike particles from the Fermi Large Area Telescope observation of PKS 2155 − 304 journal March 2018
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New mechanism producing axions in the AQN model and how the CAST can discover them journal August 2018
Looking for axion dark matter in dwarf spheroidal galaxies journal October 2018
Dark matter hurricane: Measuring the S1 stream with dark matter detectors journal November 2018
Solutions to axion electrodynamics in various geometries journal March 2019
Cosmological window onto the string axiverse and the supersymmetry breaking scale journal March 2019
Galactic axions search with a superconducting resonant cavity journal May 2019
Detecting axion dark matter with radio lines from neutron star populations journal June 2019
Improved Limits on Spin-Mass Interactions journal April 2018
Axion-Plasmon Polaritons in Strongly Magnetized Plasmas journal May 2018
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Axion Dark Matter Search with Interferometric Gravitational Wave Detectors journal September 2019
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The Initial Mass–Final Luminosity Relation of Type II Supernova Progenitors: Hints of New Physics? journal August 2019
Window for preferred axion models text January 2017
Towards a medium-scale axion helioscope and haloscope text January 2017
Cosmological Axion and Quark Nugget Dark Matter Model text January 2017
Searching for spectral oscillations due to photon-axionlike particle conversion using the Fermi-LAT observations of bright supernova remnants text January 2018
Improved Limits on Spin-Mass Interactions text January 2018
Radio Signals from Axion Dark Matter Conversion in Neutron Star Magnetospheres text January 2018
New mechanism producing axions in the AQN model and how the CAST can discover them text January 2018
Enhanced photon coupling of ALP dark matter adiabatically converted from the QCD axion text January 2018
A Dark Matter Hurricane: Measuring the S1 Stream with Dark Matter Detectors text January 2018
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