Probing Dark Matter Axions using the Hyperfine Structure Splitting of Hydrogen Atoms

Abstract

QCD axions can be a substantial part of dark matter if their mass $m_a\sim10^{-5}$eV. Since the axions were created by the misalignment mechanism, their local energy spectrum density is large. Consequently, the axion-induced atomic transition rate is enhanced if the atomic energy gap matches the axion mass. The hyperfine splitting between the spin 0 singlet ground state and the spin 1 triplet state of hydrogen is $0.59\times10^{-5}$eV, which is close to the preferred mass of dark matter axions. With an energy gap adjustment by applying a weak Zeeman magnetic field, dark matter axions can induce atomic hydrogen transitions. Furthermore, because the total spins of the hydrogen triplet and singlet differ, the axion-induced transitions are detectable by a Stern--Gerlach apparatus or a sensitive magnetic field detector. A potential realization of the proposed scheme can be similar to existing hydrogen masers.