Axio-electric effect

TL;DR

This paper calculates atomic ionization rates caused by axion absorption using relativistic Hartree-Fock approximation, providing numerical results and formulas applicable to dark matter detection experiments and setting limits on axion properties.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive calculation of axion-induced ionization rates for various atoms, including analytical formulas for broader applicability.

Findings

Numerical cross sections for Ar, Ge, Xe atoms are provided.

Derived limits on axion coupling constants from solar axion data.

Analytical formulas enable application to other systems.

Abstract

Using the relativistic Hartree-Fock approximation, we calculate the rates of atomic ionization by absorption of axions of the energies up to 100 keV and for an arbitrary value of the axion mass. We present numerical results for atoms used in the low radioactive background searches of dark matter (e.g. Ar, Ge and Xe), as well as the analytical formula which fits numerical calculations for the absorption cross sections and can be applied for other atoms, molecules and condensed matter systems. Using the cross-sections for the axio-electric effect, we derive the counting rates induced by solar axions and set limits on the axion coupling constants.