Speaker
Description
The International Axion Observatory (IAXO) is a next-generation axion helioscope designed to search for solar axions and axion-like particles (ALPs) with unprecedented sensitivity. The experiment combines a dedicated superconducting dipole magnet with precision X-ray optics and ultra-low background detectors. BabyIAXO will represent the initial stage of the project, serving both as a technological demonstrator for IAXO and as a standalone experiment with significant physics reach. It is expected to provide competitive sensitivity to axion–photon couplings down to g$_{aγ}$ ∼ 10$^{-11}$ GeV$^{-1}$. Beyond solar axion searches, its physics potential includes searches for dark matter axions with haloscopes, supernova axions and other WISPs such as hidden photons and chameleons.
A crucial element of the experiment is the development of detectors capable of achieving extremely low background levels while maintaining high efficiency in the keV energy range. The baseline detection technology for BabyIAXO consists of gaseous Time Projection Chambers equipped with radiopure Microbulk Micromegas. These detectors provide sub-millimeter spatial resolution and good energy resolution, enabling effective background discrimination to reach levels below 10$^{−7}$ counts/keV/cm²/s. In addition, other detection technologies are being explored to address different physics scenarios, including haloscope cavities for dark matter axion searches and liquid scintillator detectors for supernova axions.
| Main Contribution topic | Axion / Sterile |
|---|---|
| Secondary contribution topic | Instrumentation for Dark Matter |