Work

Proposal to Use Laser-Accelerated Electrons to Probe the Axion-Electron Coupling

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The axion is a hypothetical particle associated with a possible solution to the strong CP problem and is a leading candidate for dark matter. In this Letter we investigate the emission of axions by accelerated electrons. We find the emission probability and energy within the WKB approximation for an electron accelerated by an electromagnetic field. As an application, we estimate the number of axions produced by electrons accelerated using two counterpropagating high-intensity lasers and discuss how they would be converted to photons to be detected. We find that, under realistic experimental conditions, competitive model-independent bounds on the coupling between the axion and the electron could be achieved in such an experiment.

Source: Physical Review Letters

DOI: 10.1103/vgvg-hcbr

Authors: Georgios Vacalis, Atsushi Higuchi, Robert Bingham, Gianluca Gregori

Institutions: University of Oxford, University of York, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, University of Strathclyde

Language: English

Topic: Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena

Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,750

Funders: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Science and Technology Facilities Council