# Quantum field theory of axion-photon mixing and vacuum polarization

## TL;DR

This paper explores axion-photon mixing using quantum field theory, revealing vacuum polarization effects and potential experimental detectability, with implications for understanding axion physics and quantum effects in curved spacetime.

## Contribution

It introduces quantum field theory corrections to axion-photon oscillation formulas and uncovers a new vacuum polarization effect due to non-zero vacuum energy.

## Key findings

- Quantum corrections modify axion-photon oscillation formulas.
- A new vacuum polarization effect linked to photon polarization is identified.
- Numerical analysis suggests some effects could be experimentally observed.

## Abstract

We report on recent results obtained by analyzing axion--photon mixing in the framework of quantum field theory. We obtain corrections to the oscillation formulae and we reveal a new effect of the vacuum polarization due to the non-zero value of the vacuum energy for the component of the photon polarization mixed with the axion. The study of axion--photon mixing in curved space is also presented. Numerical analysis show that some quantum field theory effect of axion--photon mixing, in principle, could be detected experimentally.