Theoretical Proposal Suggests Particle Accelerators Could Generate Dark Matter Axions
A new theoretical paper proposes that accelerating atomic nuclei in particle accelerators could create pairs of axions, hypothetical particles that may constitute dark matter. Researchers Stefan Evans and Ralf Schützhold suggest that the rapid motion of nuclei in ultraperipheral heavy-ion collisions could trigger a dynamical Casimir effect, converting vacuum fluctuations into real axions. This mechanism relies on the fact that atomic nuclei alter the effective mass of axions within the quantum vacuum. While the probability of producing these particles depends heavily on their unknown mass, the study suggests existing technology might allow for experimental tests, though detection remains a significant challenge.
