Theoretical expectations and experimental prospects for solar axions searches with crystal detectors

Abstract

A calculation of the expected signal due to Primakov coherent conversion of solar axions into photons via Bragg scattering in several solid--state detectors is presented and compared with present and future experimental sensitivities. The axion window m_a>~0.03 eV (not accessible at present by other techniques) could be explored in the foreseeable future with crystal detectors to constrain the axion--photon coupling constant below the latest bounds coming from helioseismology. On the contrary a positive signal in the sensitivity region of such devices would imply revisiting other more stringent astrophysical limits derived for the same range of the axion mass.

8 pages, 1 figure, To be published in the proceedings of the 2nd International Workshop on the Identification of Dark Matter (IDM98), Buxton, England, 7-11 September 1998