Axions: theory, cosmology, and experimental searches

Roberto D. Peccei (auth.), Markus Kuster, Georg Raffelt, Berta Beltrán (eds.)3540735178, 9783540735175

Axions are peculiar hypothetical particles that could both solve the CP problem of quantum chromodynamics and at the same time account for the dark matter of the universe. Based on a series of lectures by world experts in this field held at CERN (Geneva), this volume provides a pedagogical introduction to the theory, cosmology and astrophysics of these fascinating particles and gives an up-to-date account of the status and prospect of ongoing and planned experimental searches. Learners and practitioners of astroparticle physics will find in this book both a concise introduction and a current reference work to a showcase topic that connects the “inner space” of the elementary particle world with the “outer space” of the universe at large.

Table of contents :
Front Matter….Pages I-XI
Front Matter….Pages 1-1
The Strong CP Problem and Axions….Pages 3-17
Axion Cosmology….Pages 19-50
Astrophysical Axion Bounds….Pages 51-71
Axions and Large Extra Dimensions….Pages 73-82
Axions and Their Relatives….Pages 83-94
Front Matter….Pages 95-95
Magnetic and Electric Dipole Moments in Storage Rings….Pages 97-113
Photon-Axion Conversion in Intergalactic Magnetic Fields and Cosmological Consequences….Pages 115-134
Microwave Cavity Searches….Pages 135-156
Recent Results from the PVLAS Experiment on the Magnetized Vacuum….Pages 157-197
Axion Searches in the Past, at Present, and in the Near Future….Pages 199-237
Back Matter….Pages 239-245