Direct search for solar axions by using strong magnetic field and X-ray detectors

Abstract

We have searched for axions which could be produced in the solar core by exploiting their conversion to X rays in a strong laboratory magnetic field. The signature of the solar axion is an increase in the rate of the X rays detected in a magnetic helioscope when the sun is within its acceptance. From the absence of such a signal we set a 95% confidence level limit on the axion coupling to two photons $g_{a\gamma\gamma}\equiv 1/M < 6.0\times 10^{-10}$ GeV$^{-1}$, provided the axion mass $m_a<0.03$ eV. The limit on the coupling is factor 4.5 more stringent than the recent experimental result. This is the first experiment whose sensitivity to $g_{a\gamma\gamma}$ is higher than the limit constrained by the solar age consideration.