Constraints on Axion Dark Matter by Spin-Dependent Macroscopic Force

TL;DR

This paper proposes a novel detection method for axion dark matter using atomic magnetometers to measure axion-electron elastic scattering, significantly improving coupling limits at low axion masses.

Contribution

It introduces a new experimental approach based on axion-electron scattering and demonstrates its potential to surpass existing astrophysical constraints.

Findings

Upper limit of electron-axion coupling improved by two orders of magnitude.

Method can exceed astrophysics limits with advanced magnetometers.

Provides a new way to detect local dark matter structures.

Abstract

Axion-like particles (ALPs) are hypothetical particles that serve as promising candidates for cold dark matter. Portals like inelastic axion scattering and axion propagated force have been employed to search for the upper limit of the ALPs' coupling with standard model particles. Other methods, like the axion-fermion interaction in the CASPEr experiment, integrate the dark matter motion into the measurement. We suggest a new method for detecting dark matter axions based on axionelectron elastic scattering. In the pseudoscalar axion model, this interaction can be seen as an effective magnetic field, so high-sensitivity atomic magnetometers can be utilized to measure this interaction. The scattering cross section of this process is significantly amplified by the high number density and occupation number of axion dark matter. The upper limit of the electron-axion coupling coefficient obtained from this process can reach two orders of magnitude higher than previous results at low axion mass, and will exceed the astrophysics limits by using a developing magnetometer. This scattering process also provides an efficient way to detect local structures of dark matter.