Production and Detection of Axion-like Particles by Interferometry

Understand

We propose an interferometry experiment for the detection of axion-like particles (ALPs).

• As in ordinary photon-regeneration (light shining through a wall) experiments, a laser beam traverses a region permeated by a magnetic field, where photons are converted to ALPs via the Primakoff process, resulting in a slight power loss and phase shift.
• The beam is then combined with a reference beam that originates from the same source.
• The detection of a change in the output intensity would signal the presence of ALPs (or possibly other particles that couple to the photon in a similar way).