Axion-photon conversion caused by dielectric interfaces: quantum field calculation
- Yerevan Physics Institute, Alikhanian Br. 2, 375036 Yerevan (Armenia)
- Institute for Theoretical Physics and Modeling, 375036 Yerevan (Armenia)
Axion-photon conversion at dielectric interfaces, immersed in a near-homogeneous magnetic field, is the basis for the dielectric haloscope method to search for axion dark matter. In analogy to transition radiation, this process is possible because the photon wave function is modified by the dielectric layers ('Garibian wave function') and is no longer an eigenstate of momentum. A conventional first-order perturbative calculation of the transition probability between a quantized axion state and these distorted photon states provides the microwave production rate. It agrees with previous results based on solving the classical Maxwell equations for the combined system of axions and electromagnetic fields. We argue that in general the average photon production rate is given by our result, independently of the detailed quantum state of the axion field. Moreover, our result provides a new perspective on axion-photon conversion in dielectric haloscopes because the rate is based on an overlap integral between unperturbed axion and photon wave functions, in analogy to the usual treatment of microwave-cavity haloscopes.
- OSTI ID:
- 22667705
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, Vol. 2017, Issue 09; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1475-7516
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
AXIONS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
CONVERSION
DIELECTRIC MATERIALS
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
INTERFACES
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAXWELL EQUATIONS
MICROWAVE RADIATION
NONLUMINOUS MATTER
PARTICLE PRODUCTION
PHOTONS
PROBABILITY
QUANTUM FIELD THEORY
QUANTUM STATES
TRANSITION RADIATION
WAVE FUNCTIONS