  The possibility of axion detection by observing axion induced atomic
excitations as suggested by Sikivie is discussed. The atom is cooled at low
temperature and it is chosen to posses three levels. The first is the ground
state, the second is completely empty chosen so that the energy difference
between the two is close to the axion mass. Under the spin induced
axion-electron interaction an electron is excited from the first to the second
level. The presence of such an electron there can be confirmed by exciting it
further via radiation of a suitably chosen photon energy to the appropriately
selected third level, which is also empty, and lies at a higher excitation
energy. From the observation of its subsequent de-excitation one infers the
presence of the axion. The system is in a magnetic field so that the energies
involved can be suitably adjusted. Since the axion is absorbed by the atom the
cross section exhibits resonance behavior. Using an axion-electron coupling
indicated by the limit obtained by the Borexino experiment, reasonable axion
absorption rates have been obtained for various atomic targets.
