Probing Axion Dark Matter via the Chiral Magnetic Effect in Zero-Bias Weyl Semimetals

Abstract

Sub-eV axion dark matter behaves as a coherent classical field that can induce macroscopic current in quantum materials. We explore the possibility of axion detection via the chiral magnetic effect in zero-bias Weyl semimetals under a static external magnetic field. We demonstrate that for a $1\mathrm{c}{\mathrm{m}}^2$ sample in a realistic $10\mathrm{T}$ magnetic field, the signal remains in the observable femto-ampere range. Utilizing state-of-the-art SQUID-based current readout, the setup can probe axion-electron couplings below existing stellar cooling bounds across a broad range of axion masses.

6 pages, 4 figures