An accurate solar axions ray-tracing response of BabyIAXO

TL;DR

This paper develops detailed software models of BabyIAXO's components to accurately predict its sensitivity to solar axions, aiding future upgrades and comparisons of axion production mechanisms.

Contribution

It introduces integrated software tools for precise modeling of BabyIAXO's detection components, enhancing sensitivity analysis and future experiment planning.

Findings

Precise signal calculation for BabyIAXO's sensitivity to axion-photon coupling.

Demonstration of the software tools' application to the Primakoff solar flux.

Framework allows testing different axion production mechanisms.

Abstract

BabyIAXO is the intermediate stage of the International Axion Observatory (IAXO) to be hosted at DESY. Its primary goal is the detection of solar axions following the axion helioscope technique. Axions are converted into photons in a large magnet that is pointing to the sun. The resulting X-rays are focused by appropriate X-ray optics and detected by sensitive low-background detectors placed at the focal spot. The aim of this article is to provide an accurate quantitative description of the different components (such as the magnet, optics, and X-ray detectors) involved in the detection of axions. Our efforts have focused on developing robust and integrated software tools to model these helioscope components, enabling future assessments of modifications or upgrades to any part of the IAXO axion helioscope and evaluating the potential impact on the experiment's sensitivity. In this manuscript, we demonstrate the application of these tools by presenting a precise signal calculation and response analysis of BabyIAXO's sensitivity to the axion-photon coupling. Though focusing on the Primakoff solar flux component, our virtual helioscope model can be used to test different production mechanisms, allowing for direct comparisons within a unified framework.