arXiv subjects

Kensuke Homma

Publications and source records attributed to Kensuke Homma.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Polarized quantum effects in countable signals from intense laser - electron beam interactions

We investigate the feasibility of precision counting experiments based on laser-electron beam interactions to verify strong-field quantum electrodynamic effects, with particular emphasis on the stochastic nature of photon emission, photon polarization, and spin asymmetry. A precise Monte-Carlo model is developed using photon packets with multi-dimensional phase-space weighting, hierarchical-mesh cumulative distribution functions, and a variable time-step method. This model quantitatively reproduces the highest edge of the photon energy spectrum and the positron yield in the previous SLAC E-144 experiment. The quantized radiation back-reaction determines the highest edge tail and thus the positron yield for higher laser intensities. The spin asymmetry in photon emission and spin flip determines photon polarization in the high-energy tail, while that in pair production can be observed through the large-angle positron scattering. Our simulations predict that these effects depend on the combination of the electron-beam energy and the laser intensity, and that they could be verified in future ELI-NP experiments using sub-GeV electron beams and optical lasers with intensities ~10^22W/cm2.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2026

Technically Natural Suppression of Fifth Force

Light scalars generically mediate a fifth force incompatible with local tests of gravity unless their couplings are parametrically suppressed or screening mechanisms are introduced. We demonstrate that such suppression can arise from symmetry. We propose a $Z_2$-symmetric mirror extension of the Standard Model within a bi-conformal gravity construction, where spontaneous breaking of scale invariance produces a light scalaron as a pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone boson. This scalaron couples to the difference of trace anomalies between the Standard Model and mirror sectors. We find a parameter-independent correlation between the fifth-force strength $\alpha$ and the scalaron mass $m_\sigma$, with the proportionality set by QCD observables and the electroweak scale. The Standard Model predicts $\alpha \lesssim 10^{-3}$ above 10~cm scales for $m_\sigma \lesssim 10^{-6}$ eV, which is directly in the target window of next-generation experiments. In contrast to environmental screening mechanisms, this suppression mechanism follows directly from symmetry rather than nonlinear scalar dynamics.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2026

Implementation and commissioning of an experimental system towards sub-eV axion-like particle searches with 0.1 PW laser at ELI-NP

We have developed and commissioned an experimental system at ELI-NP towards searches for axion-like particles (ALPs) in the worldwide 10~PW-class laser facility. The search principle is based on the Four-Wave Mixing (FWM) process at a focal region of coaxially combined two laser beams. The subsystems to control vacuum pressure, area size, spatiotemporal overlap and trigger-event pattern, are integrated into the experimental area for 0.1 PW laser output at ELI-NP. The integrated system is dedicated to identifying the possible background sources originated from the residual atoms and the optical elements. The performance and functionality of the subsystems were validated through the evaluations of laser characteristics, their stability and the FWM signal detections. Furthermore commissioning results for the background studies were demonstrated with 20 mJ-level laser pulses at the vacuum pressure of $1.3 \times 10^{-7}$ mbar. In conclusion, the integrated experimental system is fully functional as designed and provides a suitable platform for the background studies towards the ALP searches, enabling a stepwise scale-up of the laser pulse energies from 20 mJ to the maximum energy of 2.5 J in the 0.1 PW experimental area.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2025

Single-Point Search for eV-scale Axion-like particles with Variable-Angle Three-Beam Stimulated Resonant Photon Collider

We report a laboratory search for axion-like particles (ALPs) in the eV-mass range using a variable-angle three-beam stimulated resonant photon collider. The scheme independently focuses and collides three laser beams, providing a cosmology- and astrophysics-independent test. By varying the angles of incidence, the center-of-mass energy can be scanned continuously across the eV range. In this work, we operated the collider in a vacuum chamber at a large-angle configuration, verified the spacetime overlap of the three short pulses, and performed a first search centered at $m_a\simeq 2.27~\mathrm{eV}$. No excess was observed. We thus set a $95\%$ C.L.\ upper limit on the pseudoscalar two-photon coupling, with a minimum sensitivity of $g/M\simeq 4.2\times 10^{-10}~\mathrm{GeV}^{-1}$ at $m_a=2.27~\mathrm{eV}$. This provides the first model-independent upper limit on the coupling that reaches the KSVZ benchmark in the eV regime and demonstrates the feasibility of eV-scale mass scans in the near future.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2025

Earth-lens telescope for distant axion-like particle sources with stimulated backward reflection

We propose a novel telescope concept based on Earth's gravitational lensing effect, optimized for the detection of distant dark matter sources, particularly axion-like particles (ALPs). When a unidirectional flux of dark matter passes through Earth at sufficiently high velocity, gravitational lensing can concentrate the flux at a distant focal region in space. Our method combines this lensing effect with stimulated backward reflection (SBR), arising from ALP decays that are induced by directing a coherent electromagnetic beam toward the focal point. The aim of this work is to numerically analyze the structure of the focal region and to develop a framework for estimating the sensitivity to ALP-photon coupling via this mechanism. Numerical calculations show that, assuming an average ALP velocity of 520,km/s -- as suggested by the observed stellar stream S1 -- the focal region extends from $9 \times 10^9$,m to $1.4 \times 10^{10}$,m, with peak density near $9.6 \times 10^9$,m. For a conservative point-like ALP source located approximately 8,kpc from the solar system, based on the S1 stream, the estimated sensitivity in the eV mass range reaches $g/M = \mathcal{O}(10^{-22}),\mathrm{GeV}^{-1}$. This concept thus opens a path toward a general-purpose, space-based ALP observatory that could, in principle, detect more distant sources -- well beyond $\mathcal{O}(10),\mathrm{kpc}$ -- provided that ALP-photon coupling is sufficiently strong, that is, $M \ll M_\mathrm{Planck}$.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2024

Search for sub-eV axion-like particles in a quasi-parallel stimulated resonant photon-photon collider with "coronagraphy"

Axion-like particles (ALPs) have been searched for with a quasi-parallel stimulated resonant photon-photon collider sensitive to the sub-eV mass range by focusing two-color near-infrared pulse lasers into a vacuum. In this work, we have developed a specialized coronagraphy to mitigate the dominant background photons from optical elements by introducing an eclipse filter. The observed number of signal-like photons was found to be consistent with residual background photons from optical elements through an additional test by degrading the focal point overlapping factor between the two lasers. We then extended the exclusion region in the relation between ALP-photon coupling, $g/M$, and the ALP mass $m$, reaching the most sensitive point $g/M = 5.45\times10^{-7}\,\mathrm{GeV^{-1}}$ at $m = 0.15\,\mathrm{eV}$ for pseudoscalar ALPs.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2024

Opening a meV mass window for Axion-like particles with a microwave-laser-mixed stimulated resonant photon collider

We propose a microwave-laser-mixed three-beam stimulated resonant photon collider, which enables access to axion-like particles in the meV mass range. Collisions between a focused pulse laser beam and a focused microwave pulse beam directly produce axion-like particles (ALPs) and another focused pulse laser beam stimulates their decay. The expected sensitivity in the meV mass range has been evaluated. The result shows that the sensitivity can reach the ALP-photon coupling down to $O(10^{-13})$ GeV${}^{-1}$ with $10^6$ shots if 10 -100 TW class high-intensity lasers are properly combined with a conventional 100 MW class S-band klystron. This proposal paves the way for identifying the nature of ALPs as candidates for dark matter, independent of any cosmological and astrophysical models.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2023

Remote sensing of backward reflection from stimulated axion decay

We propose a method for remotely detecting backward reflection via induced decay of cold dark matter such as axion in the background of a propagating coherent photon field. This method can be particularly useful for probing concentrated dark matter streams by Earth's gravitational lensing effect. Formulae for the stimulated reflection process and the expected sensitivities in local and remote experimental approaches are provided for testing eV scale axion models using broad band lasers. The generic axion-photon coupling is expected to be explorable up to ${\cal O}(10^{-12})$ GeV${}^{-1}$ and ${\cal O}(10^{-22})$ GeV${}^{-1}$ for the idealized local and remote setups, respectively.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2023

Design and construction of a variable-angle three-beam stimulated resonant photon collider toward eV-scale ALP search

We aim at search for axion-like particles in the eV mass range using a variable-angle stimulated resonance photon collider (SRPC) with three intense laser beams. By changing angle of incidence of the three beams, the center-of-mass-system collision energy can be varied and the eV mass range can be continuously searched for. In this paper, we present the design and construction of such a variable-angle three-beam SRPC ($\mathrm{^tSRPC}$), the verification of the variable-angle mechanism using a calibration laser, and realistic sensitivity projections for the near future searches.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2023

Pilot search for axion-like particles by a three-beam stimulated resonant photon collider with short pulse lasers

Toward the systematic search for axion-like particles in the eV mass range, we proposed the concept of a stimulated resonant photon collider by focusing three short pulse lasers into vacuum. In order to realize such a collider, we have performed a proof-of-principle experiment with a set of large incident angles between three beams to overcome the expected difficulty to ensure the space-time overlap between short pulse lasers and also established a method to evaluate the bias on the polarization states, which is useful for a future variable-incident-angle collision system. In this paper we present a result from the pilot search with the developed system and the method. The search result was consistent with null. We thus have set the upper limit on the minimum ALP-photon coupling down to $1.5 \times 10^{-4}$ GeV${}^{-1}$ at the ALP mass of 1.53 eV with a confidence level of 95 %.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2022

Sensitivity to axion-like particles with a three-beam stimulated resonant photon collider around the eV mass range

We propose a three-beam stimulated resonant photon collider with focused laser fields in order to directly produce an axion-like particle (ALP) with the two beams and to stimulate its decay by the remaining one. The expected sensitivity around the eV mass range has been evaluated. The result shows that the sensitivity can reach the ALP-photon coupling down to $\mathcal{O}(10^{-14})$ GeV${}^{-1}$ with 1 J class short-pulsed lasers.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

Search for sub-eV axion-like particles in a stimulated resonant photon-photon collider with two laser beams based on a novel method to discriminate pressure-independent components

Sub-eV axion-like particles (ALPs) have been searched for by focusing two-color near-infrared pulse lasers into a vacuum along a common optical axis. Within the focused quasi-parallel collision system created by combining a creation field ($2.5\,\mathrm{mJ}/47\,\mathrm{fs}$ Ti:Sapphire laser) and a background inducing field ($1.5\,\mathrm{mJ}/9\,\mathrm{ns}$ Nd:YAG laser), the detection of signal photons via stimulated resonant photon-photon scattering by exchanging ALPs was attempted in a vacuum chamber. The signal wavelength can be determined via energy-momentum conservation in the vacuum, and it coincides with that determined from the atomic four-wave-mixing (aFWM) process. In this work, the pulse energies were one order of magnitude higher than those in the previous search, allowing aFWM from optical elements to be observed as a pressure-independent background for the first time, in addition to the residual-gas-originating aFWM following a quadratic pressure dependence. In principle the four-wave-mixing process in vacuum via ALP exchanges (vFWM) must also be pressure-independent, so the development of a new method for discriminating the optical-element aFWM is indispensable for increasing the pulse energies to the values needed for future upgraded searches. In this paper, we will present the established method for quantifying the yield from the optical-element aFWM process based on the beam cross-section dependence. With the new method, the number of signal photons was found to be consistent with zero. We then successfully obtained a new exclusion region in the relation between ALP-photon coupling, $g/M$, and the ALP mass $m$, reaching the most sensitive point $g/M = 1.14\times10^{-5}\,\mathrm{GeV^{-1}}$ at $m = 0.18\,\mathrm{eV}$.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2022

Hunting dark energy with pressure-dependent photon-photon scattering

Toward understanding of dark energy, we propose a novel method to directly produce a chameleon particle and force its decay under controlled gas pressure in a laboratory-based experiment. {\it Chameleon gravity}, characterized by its varying mass depending on its environment, could be a source of dark energy, which is predicted in modified gravity. A remarkable finding is a correspondence between the varying mass and a characteristic pressure dependence of a stimulated photon-photon scattering rate in a dilute gas surrounding a focused photon-beam spot. By observing a steep pressure dependence in the scattering rate, we can directly extract the characteristic feature of the chameleon mechanism. As a benchmark model of modified gravity consistent with the present cosmological observations, a reduced $F(R)$ gravity is introduced in the laboratory scale. We then demonstrate that the proposed method indeed enables a wide-ranging parameter scan of such a chameleon model with the varying mass around $(0.1-1)~[μ\mathrm{eV}]$ by controlling pressure values.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2021

Search for sub-eV axion-like resonance states via stimulated quasi-parallel laser collisions with the parameterization including fully asymmetric collisional geometry

We have searched for axion-like resonance states by colliding optical photons in a focused laser field (creation beam) by adding another laser field (inducing beam) for stimulation of the resonance decays, where frequency-converted signal photons can be created as a result of stimulated photon-photon scattering via exchanges of axion-like resonances. A quasi-parallel collision system (QPS) in such a focused field allows access to the sub-eV mass range of resonance particles. In past searches in QPS, for simplicity, we interpreted the scattering rate based on an analytically calculable symmetric collision geometry in both incident angles and incident energies by partially implementing the asymmetric nature to meet the actual experimental conditions. In this paper, we present new search results based on a complete parameterization including fully asymmetric collisional geometries. In particular, we combined a linearly polarized creation laser and a circularly polarized inducing laser to match the new parameterization. A 0.10 mJ / 31 fs Ti:sapphire laser pulse and a 0.20 mJ / 9 ns Nd:YAG laser pulse were spatiotemporally synchronized by sharing a common optical axis and focused into the vacuum system. Under a condition in which atomic background processes were completely negligible, no significant scattering signal was observed at the vacuum pressure of $2.6 \times 10^{-5}$ Pa, thereby providing upper bounds on the coupling-mass relation by assuming exchanges of scalar and pseudoscalar fields at a 95 % confidence level in the sub-eV mass range.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2020

Extended search for sub-eV axion-like resonances via four-wave mixing with a quasi-parallel laser collider in a high-quality vacuum system

Resonance states of axion-like particles were searched for via four-wave mixing by focusing two-color pulsed lasers into a quasi-vacuum. A quasi-parallel collision system that allows probing of the sub-eV mass range was realized by focusing the combined laser fields with an off-axis parabolic mirror. A 0.10 mJ/34 fs Ti:Sapphire laser pulse and a 0.14 mJ/9 ns Nd:YAG laser pulse were spatiotemporally synchronized by sharing a common optical axis and focused into the vacuum system. No significant four-wave mixing signal was observed at the vacuum pressure of $3.7 \times 10^{-5}$ Pa , thereby providing upper bounds on the coupling-mass relation by assuming exchanges of scalar and pseudoscalar fields at a 95 % confidence level in the mass range below 0.21 eV. For this search, the experimental setup was substantially upgraded so that optical components are compatible with the requirements of the high-quality vacuum system, hence enabling the pulse power to be increased. With the increased pulse power, a new kind of pressure-dependent background photons emerged in addition to the known atomic four-wave mixing process. This paper shows the pressure dependence of these background photons and how to handle them in the search.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2019

Stimulated radar collider for testing a model of dark energy

We propose a stimulated pulsed-radar collider for testing a dilaton model with the mass of $\sim 10^{-7}$ eV as a candidate of dark energy. We have extended formulae for stimulated resonant photon-photon scattering in a quasi-parallel collision system by including fully asymmetric collision cases. With a pulse energy of 100 J in the GHz-band, for instance, which is already achieved by an existing klystron, we expect that the sensitivity can reach gravitationally weak coupling domains, if two key technological issues are resolved: pulse compression in time reaching the Fourier transform limit, and single-photon counting for GHz-band photons. Such testing might extend the present horizon of particle physics.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2018

PHOTON-2017 conference proceedings

This document collects the proceedings of the PHOTON 2017 conference ("International Conference on the Structure and the Interactions of the Photon", including the 22th "International Workshop on Photon-Photon Collisions", and the "International Workshop on High Energy Photon Colliders") held at CERN (Geneva) in May 2017. The latest experimental and theoretical developments on the topics of the PHOTON conference series are covered: (i) $γ\,γ$ processes in e$^+$e$^-$, proton-proton (pp) and nucleus-nucleus (AA) collisions at current and future colliders, (ii) $γ$-hadron interactions in e$^\pm$p, pp, and AA collisions, (iii) final-state photon production (including Standard Model studies and searches beyond it) in pp and AA collisions, and (iv) high-energy $γ$-ray astrophysics. These proceedings are dedicated to the memory of Maria Krawczyk.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2017

Probing vacuum birefringence under a high-intensity laser field with gamma-ray polarimetry at the GeV scale

Probing vacuum structures deformed by high intense fields is of great interest in general. In the context of quantum electrodynamics (QED), the vacuum exposed by a linearly polarized high-intensity laser field is expected to show birefringence. We consider the combination of a 10 PW laser system to pump the vacuum and 1 GeV photons to probe the birefringent effect. The vacuum birefringence can be measured via the polarization flip of the probe $γ$-rays which can also be interpreted as phase retardation of probe photons. We provide theoretically how to extract phase retardation of GeV probe photons via pair-wise topology of the Bethe-Heitler process in a polarimeter and then evaluate the measurability of the vacuum birefringence via phase retardation given a concrete polarimeter design with a realistic set of laser parameters and achievable pulse statistics.

hep-ph↗