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Weak nuclear decays deep-underground as a probe of axion dark matter

3 Pith papers cite this work. Polarity classification is still indexing.

3 Pith papers citing it
abstract

We investigate the time modulation of weak nuclear decays as a method to probe axion dark matter. To this end, we develop a theoretical framework to compute the $\theta$-dependence of weak nuclear decays, including electron capture and $\beta$ decay, which enables us to predict the time variation of weak radioactivity in response to an oscillating axion dark matter background. As an application, we recast old data sets, from the weak nuclear decays of ${^{40}\text{K}}$ and ${^{137}\text{Cs}}$ taken at the underground Gran Sasso Laboratory, in order to set constraints on the axion decay constant, specifically in the axion mass range from few $10^{-23}\;$eV up to $10^{-19}\;$eV. We finally propose a new measurement at the Gran Sasso Laboratory, based on the weak nuclear decay of ${^{40}\text{K}}$ via electron capture, in order to explore even shorter timescales, thus reaching sensitivities to axion masses up to $10^{-9}\;$eV.

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years

2026 3

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UNVERDICTED 3

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background 2

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background 2

representative citing papers

Time-dependent signals of new physics at the LHC

hep-ph · 2026-05-11 · unverdicted · novelty 5.0

Incorporating timing information from time-dependent new physics signals can improve LHC search sensitivity by up to a factor of two compared to standard time-invariant analyses.

citing papers explorer

Showing 3 of 3 citing papers.

  • RadioAxion results on the search for axion dark matter under Gran Sasso hep-ex · 2026-02-20 · unverdicted · none · ref 26 · internal anchor

    The RadioAxion experiment at Gran Sasso found no evidence for axion dark matter induced periodic modulations in 241Am decays and derived constraints on the axion decay constant for masses from 10^{-21} to 10^{-9} eV.

  • Crossing into the $m_a > f_a$ Region for Leptophilic ALPs hep-ph · 2026-04-30 · unverdicted · none · ref 111 · internal anchor

    Leptophilic ALPs with m_a > f_a can explain the electron anomalous magnetic moment tension over a large parameter space and are testable via μ→e conversion.

  • Time-dependent signals of new physics at the LHC hep-ph · 2026-05-11 · unverdicted · none · ref 27 · internal anchor

    Incorporating timing information from time-dependent new physics signals can improve LHC search sensitivity by up to a factor of two compared to standard time-invariant analyses.