Probing keV mass QCD axions with the SACLA X-ray free electron laser

Abstract

Axions are hypothetical particles, proposed to account for the invariance of CP symmetry in quantum chromodynamics. While axions and axion-like-particles are well-motivated by string theory and beyond-Standard-Model extensions, they have remained elusive to experimental searches even after significant effort over many decades. Building on a recent development using an X-ray free electron laser to search for cosmologically favoured axions of mass $m_{a} \lesssim 0.01$ eV, we extend previous bounds on the ALP-photon coupling, $g_{a\gamma\gamma}$, by over an order of magnitude. We exploit the Bormann effect of Laue crystals in a light-shining-through-wall experiment, with broad sensitivity to $m_a \lesssim$ 22 eV. Moreover for $m_{a} \in$ (3460, 3480) eV our sensitivity reaches down to the QCD axion coupling prediction, providing the most stringent laboratory constraints in this mass range.