Status of the ALPS Experiment

TL;DR

The ALPS experiment at DESY searches for weakly coupled light particles like axion-like particles using a photon regeneration setup with a superconducting magnet, collecting initial data and improving sensitivity with a laser cavity.

Contribution

First data collection and sensitivity exploration of the ALPS experiment, with plans to enhance detection capabilities using a Fabry Perot laser cavity.

Findings

Initial data collected in 2007 and 2008

Sensitivity of the setup explored

Plans to increase sensitivity with a laser cavity

Abstract

The ALPS experiment at DESY searches for light particles which are coupling very weakly to photons. Primary physics goal is the search for axion like particles in a photon regeneration experiment. Central part of the experimental setup is a five Tesla strong superconducting HERA dipole magnet. During two operation periods in the years 2007 and 2008 we have collected first data and explored the sensitivity of the setup. A Fabry Perot laser cavity is being set up in order to increase the sensitivity by more than one order of magnitude.