Limits on a CP-violating scalar axion-nucleon interaction

Axions or similar hypothetical pseudoscalar bosons may have a small CP-violating scalar Yukawa interaction g_s(N) with nucleons, causing macroscopic monopole-dipole forces. Torsion-balance experiments constrain g_p(e) g_s(N), whereas g_p(N) g_s(N) is constrained by the depolarization rate of ultra-cold neutrons or spin-polarized nuclei. However, the pseudoscalar couplings g_p(e) and g_p(N) are strongly constrained by stellar energy-loss arguments and g_s(N) by searches for anomalous monopole-monopole forces, together providing the most restrictive limits on g_p(e) g_s(N) and g_p(N) g_s(N). The laboratory limits on g_s(N) are currently the most restrictive constraints on CP-violating axion interactions.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, small textual changes in v2, matches published versio

Neutrinos in Physics and Astrophysics

The observed flavor oscillations of solar and atmospheric neutrinos determine several elements of the leptonic mixing matrix, but leave open the small mixing angle Theta_13, a possible CP-violating phase, the mass ordering, the absolute mass scale m_nu, and the Dirac vs. Majorana property. Progress will be made by long-baseline, tritium endpoint, and 2-beta decay experiments. The best constraint on m_nu obtains from cosmological precision observables, implying that neutrinos contribute very little to the dark matter. However, massive Majorana neutrinos may well be responsible for ordinary matter by virtue of the leptogenesis mechanism for creating the baryon asymmetry of the universe. In future, neutrinos could play an important role as astrophysical messengers if point sources are discovered in high-energy neutrino telescopes. In the low-energy range, a high-statistics observation of a galactic supernova would allow one to observe directly the dynamics of stellar collapse and perhaps to discriminate between certain mixing scenarios. An observation of the relic neutrinos from all past supernovae has come within reach.Comment: Proceedings Texas in Tuscany, Dec. 2002. Updated cosmological mass limits in replacemen

Stars and Fundamental Physics

Stars are powerful sources for weakly interacting particles that are produced by nuclear or plasma processes in their hot interior. These fluxes can be used for direct measurements (e.g. solar or supernova neutrinos) or the back-reaction on the star can be used to derive limits on new particles. We discuss two examples of current interest, the search for solar axions by the CAST experiment at CERN and stellar-evolution limits on the size of putative large extra dimensions.Comment: Contribution to ESO-CERN-ESA Symposium on Astronomy, Cosmology and Fundamental Physics (4-7 March 2002, Garching, Germany), additional references in revised versio

Axions - Motivation, limits and searches

The axion solution of the strong CP problem provides a number of possible windows to physics beyond the standard model, notably in the form of searches for solar axions and for galactic axion dark matter, but in a broader context also inspires searches for axion-like particles in pure laboratory experiments. We briefly review the motivation for axions, astrophysical limits, their possible cosmological role, and current searches for axions and axion-like particles.Comment: Contribution to IRGAC 06, Barcelona. New figure for allowed axion parameters, including hot dark matter limit