Axion Search with Q & A Experiment

TL;DR

This paper discusses the development and results of the Q & A experiment aimed at detecting axions and measuring vacuum dichroism and birefringence, contributing to dark matter research and quantum electrodynamics validation.

Contribution

The paper introduces a new experimental setup with upgraded interferometer and magnet system to improve sensitivity in detecting axion-induced effects.

Findings

Initial vacuum dichroism measurement: (-0.2 ± 2.8) × 10^{-13} rad/pass

Upgraded interferometer aims for 10 nrad/Hz^{1/2} sensitivity

Projected measurement of vacuum dichroism at 8.6 × 10^{-17} rad/pass in 50 days

Abstract

Dark matter is a focused issue in galactic evolution and cosmology. Axion is a viable particle candidate for dark matter. Its interaction with photon is an effective way to detect it, e.g., pseudoscalar-photon interaction will generate vacuum dichroism in a magnetic field. Motivated to measure the QED vacuum birefringence and to detect pseudoscalar-photon interaction, we started to build up the Q & A experiment (QED [Quantum Electrodynamics] and Axion experiment) in 1994. In this talk, we first give a brief historical account of planet hunting and dark matter evidence. We then review our 3.5 m Fabry-Perot interferometer together with our results of measuring vacuum dichroism and gaseous Cotton-Mouton effects. Our first results give (-0.2 $\pm$ 2.8) $\times$ 10$^{-13}$ rad/pass, at 2.3 T with 18,700 passes through a 0.6 m long magnet, for vacuum dichroism measurement. We are upgrading our interferometer to 7 m arm-length with a new 1.8 m 2.3 T permanent magnet capable of rotation up to 13 cycles per second. We aim at 10 nrad/Hz$^{1/2}$ optical sensitivity with 532 nm cavity finesse around 100,000. When achieved, vacuum dichroism would be measured to 8.6 $\times$ 10$^{-17}$ rad/pass in about 50 days, and QED birefringence would be measured to 28 %.