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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
| Published: |
2024
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2412.20932 |
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| _version_ | 1866909000308621312 |
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| author | Alda, Jorge Broggini, Carlo Di Carlo, Giuseppe Di Luzio, Luca Piatti, Denise Rigolin, Stefano Toni, Claudio |
| author_facet | Alda, Jorge Broggini, Carlo Di Carlo, Giuseppe Di Luzio, Luca Piatti, Denise Rigolin, Stefano Toni, Claudio |
| contents | We investigate the time modulation of weak nuclear decays as a method to probe axion dark matter. To this end, we develop a theoretical framework to compute the $θ$-dependence of weak nuclear decays, including electron capture and $β$ decay, which enables us to predict the time variation of weak radioactivity in response to an oscillating axion dark matter background. As an application, we recast old data sets, from the weak nuclear decays of ${^{40}\text{K}}$ and ${^{137}\text{Cs}}$ taken at the underground Gran Sasso Laboratory, in order to set constraints on the axion decay constant, specifically in the axion mass range from few $10^{-23}\;$eV up to $10^{-19}\;$eV. We finally propose a new measurement at the Gran Sasso Laboratory, based on the weak nuclear decay of ${^{40}\text{K}}$ via electron capture, in order to explore even shorter timescales, thus reaching sensitivities to axion masses up to $10^{-9}\;$eV. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2412_20932 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2024 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Weak nuclear decays deep-underground as a probe of axion dark matter Alda, Jorge Broggini, Carlo Di Carlo, Giuseppe Di Luzio, Luca Piatti, Denise Rigolin, Stefano Toni, Claudio High Energy Physics - Phenomenology High Energy Physics - Experiment Nuclear Experiment Nuclear Theory We investigate the time modulation of weak nuclear decays as a method to probe axion dark matter. To this end, we develop a theoretical framework to compute the $θ$-dependence of weak nuclear decays, including electron capture and $β$ decay, which enables us to predict the time variation of weak radioactivity in response to an oscillating axion dark matter background. As an application, we recast old data sets, from the weak nuclear decays of ${^{40}\text{K}}$ and ${^{137}\text{Cs}}$ taken at the underground Gran Sasso Laboratory, in order to set constraints on the axion decay constant, specifically in the axion mass range from few $10^{-23}\;$eV up to $10^{-19}\;$eV. We finally propose a new measurement at the Gran Sasso Laboratory, based on the weak nuclear decay of ${^{40}\text{K}}$ via electron capture, in order to explore even shorter timescales, thus reaching sensitivities to axion masses up to $10^{-9}\;$eV. |
| title | Weak nuclear decays deep-underground as a probe of axion dark matter |
| topic | High Energy Physics - Phenomenology High Energy Physics - Experiment Nuclear Experiment Nuclear Theory |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2412.20932 |