Revisiting longitudinal plasmon-axion conversion in external magnetic fields

Abstract: In the presence of an external magnetic field the axion and the photon mix. In particular, the dispersion relation of a longitudinal plasmon always crosses the dispersion relation of the axion (for small axion masses), thus leading to a resonant conversion. Using thermal field theory we concisely derive the axion emission rate, applying it to astrophysical and laboratory scenarios. For the Sun, depending on the magnetic field profile plasmon-axion conversion can dominate over Primakoff production at low energies ($\lesssim 200\,$eV). This both provides a new axion source for future helioscopes and, in the event of discovery, would probe the magnetic field structure of the Sun. In the case of white dwarfs (WDs), plasmon-axion conversion provides a pure photon coupling probe of the axion, which may contribute significantly for low-mass WDs. Finally we rederive and confirm the axion absorption rate of the recently proposed plasma haloscopes.