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M. Turner

Publications and source records attributed to M. Turner.

39 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

First results from a second generation galactic axion experiment

We report first results from a large scale search for dark matter axions. The experiment probes axion masses of 1.3-13 micro-eV at a sensitivity which is about 50 times higher than previous pilot experiments. We have already scanned part of this mass range at a sensitivity better than required to see at least one generic axion model, the KSVZ axion. Data taking at full sensitivity commenced in February 1996 and scanning the proposed mass range will require three years.

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A 2nd generation cosmic axion experiment

An experiment is described to detect dark matter axions trapped in the halo of our galaxy. Galactic axions are converted into microwave photons via the Primakoff effect in a static background field provided by a superconducting magnet. The photons are collected in a high Q microwave cavity and detected by a low noise receiver. The axion mass range accessible by this experiment is 1.3-13 micro-eV. The expected sensitivity will be roughly 50 times greater than achieved by previous experiments in this mass range. The assembly of the detector is well under way at LLNL and data taking will start in mid-1995.

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The Local Halo Density

For almost twenty years models of the Galaxy have included a dark halo responsible for supporting a substantial fraction of the local rotation velocity and a flat rotation curve at large distances. Estimates of the local halo density range from $2\times 10^{-25}\gcmm3$ to $10\times 10^{-25}\gcmm3$. By careful modeling of the Galaxy, taking account of the evidence that dark halos are flattened and recent microlensing data, we arrive at a more quantitative estimate, $9.2^{+3.8}_{-3.1}\times 10^{-25}\gcmm3$. Microlensing toward the LMC indicates that only a small fraction, less than about 30\%, can be in the form of MACHOs, consistent with the idea that most of the halo consists of cold dark matter particles.

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