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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Probing the axion–nucleon coupling with the next generation of axion helioscopes

Abstract A finite axion–nucleon coupling, nearly unavoidable for QCD axions, leads to the production of axions via the thermal excitation and subsequent de-excitation of $$^{57}$$ 57 Fe isotopes in the sun. We revise the solar bound on this flux adopting the up to date emission rate, and investigate the sensitivity of the proposed International Axion Observatory IAXO and its intermediate stage BabyIAXO to detect these axions. We compare different realistic experimental options and discuss the model dependence of the signal. Already BabyIAXO has sensitivity far beyond previous solar axion searches via the nucleon coupling and IAXO can improve on this by more than an order of magnitude.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Next-Generation Search for Solar Axion Dark Matter with the International Axion Observatory

The International Axion Observatory (IAXO) was first proposed in 2011[1]-[5]. With this proposal our LDRD team, founding member of IAXO has been able to play a leading role in the IAXO experiment. We have participated in technical, scientific and organizational IAXO meetings to shape the future of the experiment. We accomplished the layout of the first-ever full-revolution telescope for solar axion searches[6]-[10] and expanded the science reach of IAXO from standard axion searches to new and potentially more exotic opportunities, such as other dark matter candidates, hidden sector particles or dark energy searches [11]-[20]. We also fulfilled the analysis of axion science data previously collected with the LLNL IAXO pathfinder x-ray telescope (XRT) [21] at the European Organization for Nuclear Research particle physics (CERN) located near Geneva, Switzerland, by means of the CERN Axion Solar Experiment (CAST). Moreover, LDRD PI Dr. Julia K. Vogel has officially been elected as Deputy Spokesperson of IAXO.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Recent constraints on axion-photon and axion-electron coupling with the CAST experiment

The CERN Axion Solar Telescope (CAST) is a helioscope looking for axions arising from the solar core plasma and arriving to Earth. The experiment, located in Geneva (Switzerland) is able to follow the Sun during sunrise and sunset. Four x-ray detectors mounted on both ends of the magnet wait for photons from axion-to-photon conversion due to the Primakoff effect. Up to date, with the completion of Phases I and II, CAST has been looking for axions that could be produced in the Sun by both, hadronic and non-hadronic mechanisms.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2013

Cosmological constraints on axionic dark radiation from axion-photon conversion in the early Universe

Axions seem ubiquitous in string theories and some of them may be produced non-thermally by heavy scalar decays, contributing to dark radiation. We study various cosmological effects of photons produced from the axionic dark radiation through axion-photon conversion in the presence of primordial magnetic fields, and derive tight constraints on the combination of the axion-photon coupling and the primordial magnetic field.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2013

Solar axion flux from the axion-electron coupling

In non-hadronic axion models, where axions couple to electrons at tree level, the solar axion flux is completely dominated by the ABC reactions (Atomic recombination and deexcitation, Bremsstrahlung and Compton). In this paper the ABC flux is computed from available libraries of monochromatic photon radiative opacities (OP, LEDCOP and OPAS) by exploiting the relations between axion and photon emission cross sections. These results turn to be ∼ 30% larger than previous estimates due to atomic recombination (free-bound electron transitions) and deexcitation (bound-bound), which where not previously taken into account.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Broadband Solenoidal Haloscope for Terahertz Axion Detection

We introduce the Broadband Reflector Experiment for Axion Detection (BREAD) conceptual design and science program. This haloscope plans to search for bosonic dark matter across the [ 10 - 3 , 1 ] eV ([0.24, 240] THz) mass range. BREAD proposes a cylindrical metal barrel to convert dark matter into photons, which a novel parabolic reflector design focuses onto a photosensor. This unique geometry enables enclosure in standard cryostats and high-field solenoids, overcoming limitations of current dish antennas. A pilot 0.7 m 2 barrel experiment planned at Fermilab is projected to surpass existing dark photon coupling constraints by over a decade with one-day runtime. Axion sensitivity requires < 10 - 20 W / Hz sensor noise equivalent power with a 10 T solenoid and 10 m 2 barrel. We project BREAD sensitivity for various sensor technologies and discuss future prospects.

Liu, Jesse↗
DOE OSTI2017

Axion-assisted production of sterile neutrino dark matter

Sterile neutrinos can be generated in the early universe through oscillations with active neutrinos and represent a popular and well-studied candidate for our Universe’s dark matter. Stringent constraints from X-ray and gamma-ray line searches, however, have excluded the simplest of such models. Here in this paper, we propose a novel alternative to the standard scenario in which the mixing angle between the sterile and active neutrinos is a dynamical quantity, induced through interactions with a light axionlike field. As the energy density of the axionlike particles is diluted by Hubble expansion, the degree of mixing is reduced at late times, suppressing the decay rate and easily alleviating any tension with X-ray or gamma-ray constraints. Lastly, we present a simple model which illustrates the phenomenology of this scenario, and also describe a framework in which the QCD axion is responsible for the production of sterile neutrinos in the early universe.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2017

New Limits on Bosonic Dark Matter, Solar Axions, Pauli Exclusion Principle Violation, and Electron Decay from the Majorana Demonstrator

Here, we present new limits on exotic keV-scale physics based on 478 kg d of Majorana Demonstrator commissioning data. Constraints at the 90% confidence level are derived on bosonic dark matter (DM) and solar axion couplings, Pauli exclusion principle violating (PEPV) decay, and electron decay using monoenergetic peak signal limits above our background. We set our most stringent DM constraints for 11.8 keV mass particles, limiting g A e < 4.5 × 10 -13 for pseudoscalars and ( α ' / α ) < 9.7 × 10 -28 for vectors. We also report a 14.4 keV solar axion coupling limit of g$eff\atop{AN}$ × g A e < 3.8 × 10 -17 , a 1/2 β 2 < 8.5 × 10 - 48 limit on the strength of PEPV electron transitions, and a lower limit on the electron lifetime of τ e > 1.2 × 1 0 24 yr for e - → invisible.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Strategic Search Plan for Axions and Axion-like-particles

Axions are one of the most promising candidates to constitute the DarkMatter in our universe. The benchmark QCD axion covers a narrowparameter space, but many well-motivated extensions of the StandardModel predict Axion-like-Particles in wide parameter regions. In thissupport note we detail on searches covering the extended axion-like particle parameter space proposed to the European strategy

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Design of axion and axion dark matter searches based on ultra high Q SRF cavities

The Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems center is developing searches for dark photons, axions and ALPs with the goal of improving upon the current state-of-the-art sensitivity. These efforts leverage on Fermi National Accelerator expertise on ultra-high quality factor superconducting radio frequency cavities combined with the center research on quantum technology. Here we focus on multiple axion searches that utilize ~1E10 quality factor superconducting radio frequency cavities and their resonant modes to enhance the production and/or detection of axions in the cavity volume. In addition, we present preliminary results of single-mode and multi-mode nonlinearity measurements that were carried out as part of an experimental feasibility study to gain insight on the behavior of the ultra-high quality factor resonators and the experimental RF system in the regime relevant for axion searches.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Magnetogenesis from axion inflation

In this work we compute the production of magnetic fields in models of axion inflation coupled to the hypercharge sector of the Standard Model through a Chern-Simons interaction term. We make the simplest choice of a quadratic inflationary potential and use lattice simulations to calculate the magnetic field strength, helicity and correlation length at the end of inflation. For small values of the axion-gauge field coupling strength the results agree with no-backreaction calculations and estimates found in the literature. For larger couplings the helicity of the magnetic field differs from the no-backreaction estimate and depends strongly on the comoving wavenumber. We estimate the post-inflationary evolution of the magnetic field based on known results for the evolution of helical and non-helical magnetic fields. The magnetic fields produced by axion inflation with large couplings to U(1) {sub Y} can reach B {sub eff} ∼> 10{sup −16} G, exhibiting a field strength B {sub phys} ≈ 10{sup −13} G and a correlation length λ{sub phys} ≈10 pc. This result is insensitive to the exact value of the coupling, as long as the coupling is large enough to allow for instantaneous preheating. Depending on the assumptions for the physical processes that determine blazar properties, these fields can be found consistent with blazar observations based on the value of B {sub eff}. Finally, the intensity of the magnetic field for large coupling can be enough to satisfy the requirements for a recently proposed baryogenesis mechanism, which utilizes the chiral anomaly of the Standard Model.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Extended Search for the Invisible Axion with the Axion Dark Matter Experiment

This paper reports on a cavity haloscope search for dark matter axions in the galactic halo in the mass range 2.81–3.31 µeV . This search excludes the full range of axion-photon coupling values predicted in benchmark models of the invisible axion that solve the strong CP problem of quantum chromodynamics. Unprecedented sensitivity in this higher mass range is achieved by deploying an ultra low-noise Josephson parametric amplifier as the first-stage signal amplifier.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2017

Axion detection via topological Casimir effect

We propose here a new table-top experimental configuration for the direct detection of dark matter QCD axions in the traditional open mass window 10 - 6 eV ≲ m a ≲ 10 - 2 eV using nonperturbative effects in a system with nontrivial spatial topology. Different from many experimental setups found in literature on direct dark matter axion detection, which relies on θ ˙ or ∇ → θ , we found that our system is in principle sensitive to a static θ ≥ 10 - 14 and can also be used to set limit on the fundamental constant θ QED which becomes the fundamental observable parameter of the Maxwell system if some conditions are met. Furthermore, the proposed experiments can probe entire open mass window 10 - 6 eV ≲ m a ≲ 10 - 2 eV with the same design, which should be contrasted with conventional cavity-type experiments being sensitive to a specific axion mass. Connection with Witten effect when the induced electric charge e ' is proportional to θ and the magnetic monopole becomes the dyon with nonvanishing e ' = - e θ 2 π is also discussed.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Signatures of Planck corrections in a spiralling axion inflation model

The minimal sub-Planckian axion inflation model accounts for a large scalar-to-tensor ratio via a spiralling trajectory in the field space of a complex field Φ. Here we consider how the predictions of the model are modified by Planck scale-suppressed corrections. In the absence of Planck corrections the model is equivalent to a ϕ{sup 4/3} chaotic inflation model. Planck corrections become important when the dimensionless coupling ξ of |Φ|{sup 2} to the topological charge density of the strongly-coupled gauge sector FF{sup ~} satisfies ξ∼1. For values of |Φ| which allow the Planck corrections to be understood via an expansion in powers of |Φ|{sup 2}/M{sub Pl}{sup 2}, we show that their effect is to produce a significant modification of the tensor-to-scalar ratio from its ϕ{sup 4/3} chaotic inflation value without strongly modifying the spectral index. In addition, to leading order in |Φ|{sup 2}/M{sub Pl}{sup 2}, the Planck modifications of n{sub s} and r satisfy a consistency relation, Δn{sub s}=−Δr/16. Observation of these modifications and their correlation would allow the model to be distinguished from a simple ϕ{sup 4/3} chaotic inflation model and would also provide a signature for the influence of leading-order Planck corrections.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Drifting oscillations in axion monodromy

In this paper, we study the pattern of oscillations in the primordial power spectrum in axion monodromy inflation, accounting for drifts in the oscillation period that can be important for comparing to cosmological data. In these models the potential energy has a monomial form over a super-Planckian field range, with superimposed modulations whose size is model-dependent. The amplitude and frequency of the modulations are set by the expectation values of moduli fields. We show that during the course of inflation, the diminishing energy density can induce slow adjustments of the moduli, changing the modulations. We provide templates capturing the effects of drifting moduli, as well as drifts arising in effective field theory models based on softly broken discrete shift symmetries, and we estimate the precision required to detect a drifting period. A non-drifting template suffices over a wide range of parameters, but for the highest frequencies of interest, or for sufficiently strong drift, it is necessary to include parameters characterizing the change in frequency over the e-folds visible in the CMB. Finally, we use these templates to perform a preliminary search for drifting oscillations in a part of the parameter space in the Planck nominal mission data.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Primordial gravitational waves from axion-gauge fields dynamics

Inspired by the chromo-natural inflation model of Adshead and Wyman, we reshape its scalar content to relax the tension with current observational bounds. Besides an inflaton, the setup includes a spectator sector in which an axion and SU(2) gauge fields are coupled via a Chern-Simons-type term. The result is a viable theory endowed with an alternative production mechanism for gravitational waves during inflation. The gravitational wave signal sourced by the spectator fields can be much larger than the contribution from standard vacuum fluctuations, it is distinguishable from the latter on the basis of its chirality and, depending on the theory parameters values, also its tilt. This production process breaks the well-known relation between the tensor-to-scalar ratio and the energy scale of inflation. As a result, even if the Hubble rate is itself too small for the vacuum to generate a tensor amplitude detectable by upcoming experiments, this model still supports observable gravitational waves.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗