CAST: Status and latest results

Abstract

In July 2011 CAST finished the data-taking of its nominal programme having scanned axion masses up to ∼ 1.18 eV/c2. Here we present the first results of the data taken in 2008 first year of the last data-taking campaign when 3He was used inside the magnet bores. No excess of signal over background has been recorded and an upper limit has been set to the axion-to-photon coupling to 2.3×10-10 GeV-1 for axion masses between 0.39 and 0.64 eV. CAST remains the most sensitive axion helioscope and for the first time crosses the benchmark line of the KSVZ model at the upper end of the spectrum.