A proposal to search for a monochromatic component of solar axions using ${}^{57}$Fe

Abstract

A new experimental scheme is proposed to search for almost monochromatic solar axions, whose existence has not been discussed heretofore. The axions would be produced when thermally excited ${}^{57}$Fe in the sun relaxes to its ground state and could be detected via resonant excitation of the same nuclide in a laboratory. A detailed calculation shows that the rate of the excitation is up to order 10 events/day/kg-${}^{57}$Fe. The excitation can be detected efficiently using bolometers or liquid scintillators.

Comments: 9 pages, REVTeX, 2 PostScript figures