Exploiting the capabilities of next-generation neutrino experiments can significantly advance the search for axion-like particles (ALPs). We propose that short-baseline reactor experiments using large organic liquid scintillator detectors are ideal for such a search. These detectors can identify ALPs produced in the reactor core via Primakoff- and Compton-like processes through detection channels including inverse Primakoff-like scattering, inverse Compton-like scattering, axio-electric absorption or direct particle decay into photons or electron pairs. Based on a setup similar to the JUNO-TAO experiment, our sensitivity projections indicate strong potential to probe unexplored parameter space. Our analysis indicates that the cosmological triangle can be fully explored and that ALP-electron couplings of $g_{aee}$ ≈ $10^{−8}$ can be reached for MeV-scale masses.

laura.duque@cinvestav.mx

Laura Duque Herrera