Search

The axion is a hypothetical elementary particle postulated by the Peccei-Quinn theory to resolve the strong CP problem in QCD. If axions exist and have low mass, they are a candidate for dark matter as well. So far our knowledge of the properties of the QCD axion rests on semi-classical arguments and effective theory. In this work we perform, for the first time, a fully dynamical investigation of the Peccei-Quinn theory, focussing on the axion mass, by simulating the theory on the lattice. The results of the simulation are found to be in conflict with present axion phenomenology., Comment: 16 pages, 9 figures; theoretical considerations refined, numerical results on larger lattices added, text corrected and improved

The lack of experimental evidence for CP violation in the strong nuclear force led to the development of Peccei-Quinn theory which proposes a mechanism by which CP violation is suppressed in the strong force. One consequence of Peccei-Quinn theory is the prediction of a new boson, the axion, with an unknown mass and coupling constant. Although experiments have searched for these axions, we have only been able to place limits on the mass and coupling constant. We seek to perform a search for axions using the high purity germanium detectors in the Majorana Demonstrator to look for axion-to-photon converted signals from the sun. To do this we use the germanium crystal lattice to Bragg scatter the incident solar axion ux, which by the Primakoff effect is converted into a photon signal detectable by our germanium crystals. The work described in this document serves to establish a procedure for determining the germanium crystal axes (needed to find the Bragg condition), as well as to perform research and development on the hardware and software tools necessary to perform the axion search.