The 8.4 T, 10 m long transverse magnetic field of a twin aperture LHC bendi
ng magnet can be utilized as a macroscopic coherent solar axion-to-photon c
onverter. Numerical calculations show that the integrated time of alignment
with the Sun would be 33 days/yr with the magnet on a tracking table capab
le of +/ -5 degrees in the vertical direction and +/- 40 degrees in the hor
izontal direction. The existing lower bound on the axion-to-photon coupling
constant can be improved by a factor between 30 and 100 in 3 yr, i.e.. g(a
gamma gamma) less than or similar to 9 X 10(-11) GeV-1 for axion masses le
ss than or similar to 1 eV. This value falls within the existing open axion
mass window. The same set-up can simultaneously search for low- and high-e
nergy celestial axions, or axion-like particles, scanning the sky as the Ea
rth rotates and orbits the Sun. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights r
eserved.