Challenges and Opportunities for the Next Generation of Photon Regeneration Experiments

Abstract

Photon regeneration experiments searching for signatures of oscillations of photons into hypothetical very weakly interacting ultra-light particles, such as axions, axion-like and hidden-sector particles, have improved their sensitivity considerably in recent years. Important progress in laser and detector technology as well as recycling of available magnets from accelerators may allow a big further step in sensitivity such that, for the first time, laser light shining through a wall experiments will explore territory in parameter space that has not been excluded yet by astrophysics and cosmology. We review these challenges and opportunities for the next generation experiments.

6 pages, 7 figures, to appear in the proceedings of Axions 2010, January 15-17, 2010, Gainesville, Florida