7Li solar axions: Preliminary results and feasibility studies Original Research Article

Feasibility studies on a search for 7Li solar axion have been carried out. In particular, the data collected with a LiF powder of 243 g measured during 722 h with a 408 cm3 low background HP Ge detector (GSOR) at the Gran Sasso National Laboratories (LNGS) of INFN has allowed to set limit on the 7Li solar axion mass of 13.9 keV, better than the previously available one: 16.0 keV [A.V. Derbin, et al., JETP Lett. 81 (2005) 365]. It has also been shown that improved results would be achieved with LiF(W) crystal which—in contrast with the LiF powder—does not show a relatively high contamination by U/Th chains. The potential backgrounds and the reachable sensitivity of an experiment are discussed.