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

Area of Science:

• Particle Physics
• Cosmology
• Astrophysics

Background:

• The axion is a hypothetical particle proposed to solve the strong CP problem.
• Axions are a leading candidate for explaining dark matter in the universe.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate the emission of axions by accelerated electrons.
• Estimate axion production in high-intensity laser experiments.
• Determine potential for model-independent bounds on axion-electron coupling.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing the WKB approximation to calculate axion emission probability and energy for electrons in electromagnetic fields.
• Estimating axion production from electrons accelerated by counterpropagating high-intensity lasers.
• Discussing the conversion of produced axions to photons for detection.

Main Results:

• Derived the emission probability and energy of axions from accelerated electrons.
• Estimated the number of axions produced in a specific laser-acceleration setup.
• Showed that realistic experimental conditions can achieve competitive bounds on axion-electron coupling.

Conclusions:

• The proposed experiment offers a promising avenue for detecting axions and constraining their properties.
• This research provides a pathway for achieving model-independent bounds on axion-electron interactions.
• The study highlights the potential of high-intensity laser facilities in fundamental physics research.