J. G. Garza

Conceptual design of the International Axion Observatory (IAXO)

The International Axion Observatory (IAXO) will be a forth generation axion helioscope. As its primary physics goal, IAXO will look for axions or axion-like particles (ALPs) originating in the Sun via the Primakoff conversion of the solar plasma photons. In terms of signal-to-noise ratio, IAXO will be about 4–5 orders of magnitude more sensitive than CAST, currently the most powerful axion helioscope, reaching sensitivity to axion-photon couplings down to a few × 10−12 GeV−1 and thus probing a large fraction of the currently unexplored axion and ALP parameter space. IAXO will also be sensitive to solar axions produced by mechanisms mediated by the axion-electron coupling gae with sensitivity — for the first time — to values of gae not previously excluded by astrophysics. With several other possible physics cases, IAXO has the potential to serve as a multi-purpose facility for generic axion and ALP research in the next decade. In this paper we present the conceptual design of IAXO, which follows the layout of an enhanced axion helioscope, based on a purpose-built 20 m-long 8-coils toroidal superconducting magnet. All the eight 60cm-diameter magnet bores are equipped with focusing x-ray optics, able to focus the signal photons into ~ 0.2 cm2 spots that are imaged by ultra-low-background Micromegas x-ray detectors. The magnet is built into a structure with elevation and azimuth drives that will allow for solar tracking for ~ 12 h each day.

New CAST limit on the axion–photon interaction

During 2003--2015, the CERN Axion Solar Telescope (CAST) has searched for

Search for solar axions by the CERN axion solar telescope with 3He buffer gas: closing the hot dark matter gap.

a\to\gamma

Readout technologies for directional WIMP Dark Matter detection

conversion in the 9 T magnetic field of a refurbished LHC test magnet that can be directed toward the Sun. In its final phase of solar axion searches (2013--2015), CAST has returned to evacuated magnet pipes, which is optimal for small axion masses. The absence of a significant signal above background provides a world leading limit of

Gaseous time projection chambers for rare event detection: results from the T-REX project. II. Dark matter

g_{a\gamma} < 0.66 \times 10^{-10} {\rm GeV}^{-1}

New solar axion search using the CERN Axion Solar Telescope with He 4 filling

(95% C.L.) on the axion-photon coupling strength for

Assessment of material radiopurity for Rare Event experiments using Micromegas

m_a \lesssim 0.02

Status of R&D on Micromegas for Rare Event Searches : The T-REX project

eV. Compared with the first vacuum phase (2003--2004), the sensitivity was vastly increased with low-background x-ray detectors and a new x-ray telescope. These innovations also serve as pathfinders for a possible next-generation axion helioscope.

Search for chameleons with CAST

Introduction.—The most promising method to searchfor axions and axion-likeparticles (ALPs) [1–4], low-massbosons with a two-photon interaction vertex, is their con-version to photons in macroscopic magnetic fields [5–7].This approach includes the search for solar axions by thehelioscope technique [8–15], photon regeneration exper-iments (“shining light through a wall”) [16–18], axion-photon conversion in astrophysical B fields [19–22], andthe search for galactic axion dark matter [23–27].One limiting factor in any of these efforts is the mo-mentum difference between freely propagating photonsand axions caused by the axion mass m

Rare event searches based on Micromegas detectors: the T-REX project

The measurement of the direction of WIMP-induced nuclear recoils is a compelling but technologically challenging strategy to provide an unambiguous signature of the detection of Galactic dark matter. Most directional detectors aim to reconstruct the dark-matter-induced nuclear recoil tracks, either in gas or solid targets. The main challenge with directional detection is the need for high spatial resolution over large volumes, which puts strong requirements on the readout technologies. In this paper we review the various detector readout technologies used by directional detectors. In particular, we summarize the challenges, advantages and drawbacks of each approach, and discuss future prospects for these technologies.