Cryogenics for the CERN Solar Axion Telescope (CAST) using a LHC Dipole Prototype Magnet

The axion, an as yet hypothetical particle predicted from the solution of the strong CP problem, constitutes a prime candidate for the galactic dark matter and also arises in supersymmetry and superstring theories. If existing, axions should be copiously produced in stellar interiors and there are theoretical expectations for a low-energy axion emission spectrum peaked around a mean energy of ~ 4.4 keV. To provide the experimental proof, a solar axion telescope is at present installed at CERN, which is expected to be in total 10-12 times more efficient than the present largest set-up in operation at the University of Tokyo. The telescope will use a decommissioned 10-m long LHC superconducting dipole prototype magnet, providing a magnetic field of 9 T in operation, to catalyse the solar axion to photon conversion, which then can be detected by low-background x-ray detectors. The paper describes the external and proximity cryogenic systems and their integration into the overall telescope assembly.