arXiv:0806.2438·v2·High Energy Physics — Experiment
A search for chameleon particles using a photon regeneration technique
A. S. Chou (1)🇺🇸 · W. Wester (2)🇺🇸 · A. Baumbaugh (2)🇺🇸 · H. R. Gustafson (3)🇺🇸 · Y. Irizarry-Valle (2)🇺🇸 · P. O. Mazur (2)🇺🇸 · J. H. Steffen (2)🇺🇸 · R. Tomlin (2)🇺🇸 · A. Upadhye (4)🇺🇸 · A. Weltman (5,6)🇬🇧 · X. Yang (2)🇺🇸 · J. Yoo (2) ((1) Center for Cosmology and Particle Physics, New York University,(2) Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, (3) Department of Physics, University of Michigan, (4) Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics, University of Chicago, (5) Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Cambridge, (6) Cosmology and Gravity Group, University of Cape Town)🇺🇸
Abstract
We report the first results from the GammeV search for chameleon particles, which may be created via photon-photon interactions within a strong magnetic field. Chameleons are hypothesized scalar fields that could explain the dark energy problem. We implement a novel technique to create and trap the reflective particles within a jar and to detect them later via their afterglow as they slowly convert back into photons. These measurements provide the first experimental constraints on the couplings of chameleons to photons.
Comments: 4 pages, 3 figures, accepted to PRL, minor revisions to introduction and a more quantitative estimate of reflection condition