Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, including Wei Dai, Yuanlin Gong, Guanhua Gu, Liangliang Su, Li Wang, Lei Wu, Yongcheng Wu, and Litao Yang, have proposed a novel approach to search for axions and axion-like particles (ALPs) using nuclear power plants. Their work, published in the journal Physical Review Letters, leverages the intense gamma-ray flux and suitable energy conditions present in these facilities to probe new physics beyond the Standard Model.
Nuclear power plants are not only crucial for clean energy generation but also serve as powerful tools for scientific research. The researchers propose to utilize the REactor Neutrino COherent scattering Detection Experiment (RECODE) at the Sanmen nuclear power plant in China. This experiment involves placing two low-threshold, high-purity germanium detectors at distances of 11 meters (near point) and 22 meters (far point) from a 3.4 GW nuclear reactor.
The primary goal of RECODE is to search for ALPs, which are hypothetical particles that could potentially solve several outstanding problems in physics, such as the strong CP problem and the dark matter puzzle. By analyzing the data collected over a 10 kg·year exposure, the researchers demonstrate that the expected sensitivities to the ALP couplings to electrons and photons are competitive with or surpass the available results from beam-dump experiments.
One of the most significant aspects of this research is its potential to explore previously unexplored parameter space relevant to axions. With a planned upgrade to 100 kg·year, the experiment aims to fully cover the so-called cosmological triangle region, which is of great interest to physicists studying axions and ALPs.
For the energy sector, this research highlights the dual role of nuclear power plants as both energy generators and scientific research facilities. By conducting advanced physics experiments alongside energy production, nuclear power plants can contribute to our understanding of fundamental physics while continuing to provide clean and reliable energy. This synergy between energy production and scientific research can drive innovation and advance both fields.
Source: Physical Review Letters
This article is based on research available at arXiv.