Where could axions come from? Several natural and experimental sources might produce them – and each offers a different way to search.

The Sun

Inside the Sun, particles collide at extreme temperatures and densities. These energetic conditions might give rise to axions through various processes, such as interactions between photons and atomic nuclei. If so, the Sun would send a continuous stream of axions toward Earth – undetectable to our eyes, but possibly within reach of precision experiments like IAXO.

Supernovae

When massive stars explode as supernovae, they create some of the hottest, densest environments in the universe. These extreme conditions could produce huge bursts of axions, released during the collapse of a stellar core. Studying past supernovae – or waiting for the next one – could help us learn more about this potential source.

Dark Matter Halo

Many theories suggest that axions could make up the dark matter that surrounds our galaxy in a vast, invisible halo. If so, axions would be all around us – not from a single source, but as a background field gently flowing through Earth at all times. Detecting this cosmic sea of particles could unlock the dark side of the universe.

Laboratory Experiments

Axions might also be created here on Earth. High-energy photons in strong magnetic fields, for example, could potentially generate axions under the right conditions. These possibilities are being tested in cutting-edge experiments that attempt to create and detect axions directly in the lab.