Axion dark matter: new experimental search, phenomenological motivation, and theoretical background ((10) D05+)

• Subject Area: Nuclear and Elementary Particle Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Relativity, Fields ; Astrophysics and Astronomy
• Term: from 2017 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 283604770

Axions are among the most attractive particle candidates for cosmic dark matter. A new search approach will be pursued, based on layered dielectrics in a strong B-field, to convert dark-matter axions to microwave photons (around 25 GHz). Our mass range around 100 eV complements existing experiments and is natural in scenarios where the Peccei-Quinn transition occurs after inflation. The cosmic production from a patchwork of axion-field domains and concomitant minicluster formation will be studied as well. Model building in string theory complements these experimental and phenomenological investigations to provide a truly unified framework for the Peccei-Quinn mechanism and cosmologically relevant axions.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1258: Neutrinos and Dark Matter in Astro- and Particle Physics (NDM)
• Applicant Institution: Technische Universität München (TUM)
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Allen Caldwell; Privatdozent Dr. Georg Raffelt; Dr. Patrick Karl Simon Vaudrevange