CERN Accelerating science

Experiments at CERN
Title	A search for axions and massive neutrinos
Author(s)	Hornshoj, P
Experiment	IS300
Greybook	See IS300 experiment
Approved	18 September 1991
Status	Finished
Collaboration	ISOLDE
Accelerator	CERN ISOLDE
Abstract	This experiment relies on the production of a strong, contamination-free (10$ ^{-12} $) source of radioactive $^{125}$I at the ISOLDE facility. Technical developments to achieve the necessary beam intensity are in progress. The possible emission of axions in the 35.5 keV M1 transition of the $^{125}$Te daughter isotope is searched for by the axion analogue of the Mössbauer effect, i.e. the axion resonance absorption in a $^{125}$Te resonance absorber. For this purpose all other radiation emitted from the source is shielded by a non-resonant absorber, which is transparent, however, to axions. The resonance absorption is detected by measurement of subsequently emitted X-rays. A sensitivity to the axion emission branching ratio in the nuclear decay of 10$ ^{-7} $ is strived for.
Related document(s)	CERN-ISC-91-4  (ISC-P-2)

Contact: Ravn, H