ALP production through non-linear Compton scattering in intense fields

TL;DR

This paper calculates the production rates of axion-like particles via non-linear Compton scattering in intense laser fields, highlighting potential laboratory methods to detect light particles beyond the Standard Model.

Contribution

It provides a detailed theoretical framework for ALP production in intense electromagnetic fields, including angular distributions and mass effects, using Gaussian laser pulses.

Findings

ALP production is feasible with ultra-relativistic electrons in intense laser fields.

Mass effects significantly influence angular distributions and yields.

Potential for lab-based searches for light BSM particles is discussed.

Abstract

We derive production yields for massive pseudo-scalar and scalar axion-like-particles (ALPs), through non-linear Compton scattering of an electron in the background of low- and high-intensity electromagnetic fields. In particular, we focus on electromagnetic fields from Gaussian plane wave laser pulses. A detailed study of the angular distributions and effects of the scalar and pseudo-scalar masses is presented. It is shown that ultra-relativistic seed electrons can be used to produce scalars and pseudo-scalars with masses up to the order of the electron mass. We briefly discuss future applications of this work towards lab-based searches for light beyond-the-Standard-Model particles.