X-ray Laser Hunt for Dark Matter's Axions: A New Path in Physics

Scientists at European XFEL in Germany are using the world's most powerful X-ray laser to search for axions, hypothetical particles that could explain dark matter. Published in *Physical Review Letters*, the study details an experiment channeling intense X-ray beams through germanium crystals, creating strong magnetic fields to transform photons into axions and back. A titanium foil filters out photons, allowing only axions to pass. The goal is to detect these axions as they convert back into photons on the other side. This method aims to measure axions in the milli- to kiloelectronvolt mass range, potentially improving sensitivity by a factor of several hundred to detect axions predicted by quantum chromodynamics. This research paves the way for new experiments in dark matter detection, offering a competitive alternative to particle accelerators.