Laboratory limits on solar axions from an ultralow-background germanium spectrometer

Journal Article · Fri May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · Phys. Rev. D; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.35.2752· OSTI ID:6647426

Brodzinski, R L; Dimopoulos, S; Starkman, G D; Drukier, A K; Spergel, D N; Gelmini, G; Lynn, B W

Laboratory bounds on the couplings to electrons of light pseudoscalars such as axions, familons, Majorons, etc., are set with an ultralow-background germanium spectrometer using a realistic model for the Sun. In particular Dine-Fischler-Srednicki axion models with F/2x/sub e//sup '/approx. <0.5 x 10/sup 7/ GeV are excluded. It should be emphasized that this is a laboratory bound. It does not rely on a detailed understanding of the dynamics and evolution of red giants, white dwarfs, or other stars as do the more speculative astrophysical bounds which are competitive with our laboratory bound. The lower limit should be improved to F/2x/sub e//sup '/>1.8 x 10/sup 7/ GeV in the near future. It is shown that semiconducting Ge detectors for axions could eventually set limits F/2x/sub e//sup '/>10/sup 8/ GeV. If discovered, axions or other light weakly interacting bosons would not only allow us to study physics at energies beyond the reach of accelerators but would also provide a new laboratory tool to study the deep interior of stars.

• Research Organization: Department of Physics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208
• OSTI ID: 6647426
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. D; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. D; (United States) Vol. 35:9; ISSN PRVDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

440104* -- Radiation Instrumentation-- High Energy Physics Instrumentation
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
AXIONS
BOSONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
GE SEMICONDUCTOR DETECTORS
GOLDSTONE BOSONS
LIMITING VALUES
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
PARTICLE IDENTIFICATION
POSTULATED PARTICLES
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIATION FLUX
RADIATIONS
SEMICONDUCTOR DETECTORS
SOLAR RADIATION
STELLAR RADIATION