Axion Dark Matter Research Articles

Fluctuations of atomic energy levels due to axion dark matter

Fluctuations of atomic energy levels due to axion dark matter

Addressing six standard model problems with Technically Natural Higgs models

We aim to study the potential of the recently proposed model framework, called Technically Natural Higgs (TNH), in addressing six fundamental problems in particle physics and cosmology. These questions encompass the electroweak (EW) naturalness problem, neutrino mass generation, nature of the inflaton, the matter-antimatter asymmetry problem, origin of dark matter (DM) and the strong CP problem. We investigate various solutions within the TNH framework for three inflation scenarios — Higgs, Starobinsky and scale-independent inflation. In the minimal TNH model, the Higgs is a mixture of an elementary and a composite state, with a compositeness scale far exceeding the EW scale. Traditionally, this has required an unnatural small vacuum misalignment, but in the TNH framework a novel mechanism enables a technically natural large compositeness scale, even up to the Planck scale. In this model framework, we demonstrate that a scale-invariant version of the minimal TNH model, featuring a special energy scale of around mathcal{O} (1012) GeV, loop-induced by the inflaton, simultaneously yields a technically natural 125-GeV Higgs boson, scotogenic neutrinos, a scale-invariant inflaton and a QCD axion DM candidate. These components dynamically generate the Planck scale and collectively have the potential to address all six open questions.

A way of determination of axion mass with quantum Hall effect

Axion dark matter is converted to electromagnetic radiations in the presence of strong magnetic field. The radiations possibly give rise to non trivial phenomena in condensed matter physics. Especially, we discuss that saturation of plateau-plateau transition width observed at low temperature in integer quantum Hall effect is caused by the axion. The radiations from axions are inevitably present in the experiment. Although the radiations generated by axion are extremely weak, Hall conductivity jumps up to next plateau even if only a single electron occupies an extended state; a localized electron is transited to the extended state by absorbing the radiation. According to our analysis, previous experiment [33] of the saturation in detail suggests that the axion mass is in the range 10−5eV∼10−6 eV. We propose a way of the determination of the axion mass by imposing microwaves on Hall bar and also a way of the confirmation that the axion really causes the saturation of the width.

First results of axion dark matter search with DANCE

First results of axion dark matter search with DANCE

Development, Integration, and Test of the MACQU Demo Coil Toward MADMAX Quench Analysis

The MADMAX project aims at detecting axion dark matter in the mass range of 100 μeV. To facilitate axion to photon conversion with detectable rate a superconducting dipole magnet with a large bore is needed. The MADMAX dipole magnet has to generate ∼9 T in a 1.35 m aperture over ∼1.3 m in length. A key challenge for a magnet made of a cable in-conduit conductor (CICC), operating at 1.8 K with an indirect bath cooling is the quench detection. In order to validate feasibility, a mock-up coil with a quench behavior scalable to MADMAX was designed and produced. The paper gives an overview of the technical details of the MACQU test coil. The conductor, the magnet, the busbar and the supporting and cryogenic systems were designed at CEA. The cable was manufactured in China at the Chang Tong INC from WST Nb-Ti strands, the insertion and compaction was achieved in the ASIPP institute with a copper profile from Aurubis. The winding of the coil and the busbar pre-forming were performed at Bilfinger Noell as well as the assembly of the supporting structure and the thermal shield. The magnet was integrated in the JT60 test station at CEA Saclay and extensively tested. The magnet current reached 80% on the loadline instead of 90% as expected at nominal. The limitation is likely coming from uneven current distribution at the extremity of the magnet at the connection box location. Nevertheless, quench tests were successfully performed at constant currents from 10 kA to 17 kA. They proved that the initial quench velocities are of the order of 1 m/s to 10 m/s, high enough to safely detect a voltage drop in MADMAX and discharge the magnet. In addition, a thermo-hydraulic quench back effect was observed in the MACQU coil cooled by superfluid helium.

Design Evolution of MADMAX Conductor to a Nb–Ti Cable in Copper Conduit

The MADMAX (MAgnetized Disc and Mirror AXion) project aims at detecting axion dark matter in the mass range around 100 μeV. Prerequisite for success is a very large dipole (1.35 m warm bore) with a high magnetic field up to 10 T. A first conductor design made of Nb-Ti Rutherford Cable On Conduit Conductor with a hole in the copper conduit (RCOCC type) was already presented. The coolant is static bath of superfluid helium at 1.8 K. Unfortunately, no conductor manufacturer with an available production line was found to take in charge the cable insertion/soldering process. Actually, such a production line should be compatible with large conductor section (∼400 mm²) including a solder wave device. The type of conductor was changed to use a line developed for ITER Cable In Conduit Conductor (CICC). Nevertheless, the jacket part was kept in copper. The main evolution of the MADMAX conductor design is presently reviewed. The final outer dimensions of the conductor, the void fraction and the required cold work of the copper induces a reverse engineering challenge on the initial shape of the copper profile. Then, the cable geometry modification involves a lots of differences in terms of self-field, strand diameters, transposition paths, joints technique and conductance between the strands and the stabilizer. The mechanical aspects are subject to evolution for the project due to the magnetic design optimization and conductor type change. A sub-modeling approach is used to detail the stress level in the stabilizer jacket. The possibility of wire motion and wire deformation during the conductor compaction in the production line is also discussed. Concerning the thermal analysis, the major difference is the thermo-hydraulic quench back that induces a much higher pressure drop of the helium in the conduit. So, higher pressure induced higher helium velocity and a fast detection after a quench event in superfluid environment becomes possible.

Axionic Dark Matter in a Bi-Metric Universe

We study the evolution and production of axion dark matter in a universe model with two scale factors corresponding to different patches of the universe. The interaction between patches is described through a deformed Poisson bracket structure. The first part of the present paper is devoted to a review of the results reported in previous works concerning the study of dark matter as WIMPs and FIMPs. The new results concerning axionic dark matter in this bi-metric scenario show that different values of the deformation parameter κ allow values of masses and misalignment angles forbidden in standard cosmology. The present model can also be considered a different type of nonstandard cosmology consistent with previously reported results.

Dark matter induced stellar oscillations

ABSTRACT It has been hypothesized that dark matter is comprised of ultra-light bosons whose collective phenomena can be described as a scalar field undergoing coherent oscillations. Examples include axion and fuzzy dark matter models. In this ultra-light dark matter (ULDM) scenario, the harmonic variation in the field’s energy–momentum tensor sources an oscillating component of the gravitational potential that we show can resonantly excite stellar oscillations. A mathematical framework for predicting the amplitude of these oscillations is developed, which reveals that ULDM predominantly excites p-modes of degree l = 1. An investigation of resonantly excited solar oscillations is presented, from which we conclude that dark matter induced oscillations of the Sun are likely undetectable. We discuss prospects for constraining ULDM using other stellar objects.

A Quantum Perspective on Oscillation Frequencies in Axion Dark Matter Experiments

AbstractIn this paper, the time evolution of signals in axion dark matter experiments is considered from a quantum perspective. The aim is to illuminate the specific case of axion experiments and not to contribute new results to the general discussion of the quantum/classical connection. Classically, one expects a signal oscillating with a frequency equal to the axion mass whose amplitude is slowly rising due to the tiny interaction of the axions with ordinary matter. Quantum mechanically the latter time‐scale arises from the small splitting in the energy levels induced by the interaction between the axions and the experiment. It is always present in suitable, sensitive experiments. Signals that oscillate with the axion mass arise from processes changing the axion number. For certain observables such oscillations are absent for special initial quantum states of the axions. Examples are shown where these special states can be affected by the experiment such that a signal oscillating with the axion mass re‐appears. Suitable correlators that feature an oscillation with the axion mass are discussed, and comments on the connection to the classical treatment are provided. Explicitly, the Cosmic Axion Spin Precession Experiment (CASPEr) is studied, but these findings are expected to be adaptable to other axion dark matter searches.

Variation of the Quadrupole Hyperfine Structure and Nuclear Radius due to an Interaction with Scalar and Axion Dark Matter.

Atomic spectroscopy is used to search for the space-time variation of fundamental constants which may be due to an interaction with scalar and pseudoscalar (axion) dark matter. In this Letter, we study the effects that are produced by the variation of the nuclear radius and electric quadrupole moment. The sensitivity of the electric quadrupole hyperfine structure to both the variation of the quark mass and the effects of dark matter exceeds that of the magnetic hyperfine structure by 1-2 orders of magnitude. Therefore, the measurement of the variation of the ratio of the electric quadrupole and magnetic dipole hyperfine constants is proposed. The sensitivity of the optical clock transitions in the Yb^{+} ion to the variation of the nuclear radius allows us to extract, from experimental data, limits on the variation of the hadron and quark masses, the QCD parameter θ and the interaction with axion dark matter.

Sensitivity of ultralight axion dark matter search with optical quantum sensors

Sensitivity of ultralight axion dark matter search with optical quantum sensors

Search for a Dark-Matter-Induced Cosmic Axion Background with ADMX.

We report the first result of a direct search for a cosmic axion background (CaB)-a relativistic background of axions that is not dark matter-performed with the axion haloscope, the Axion Dark Matter eXperiment (ADMX). Conventional haloscope analyses search for a signal with a narrow bandwidth, as predicted for dark matter, whereas the CaB will be broad. We introduce a novel analysis strategy, which searches for a CaB induced daily modulation in the power measured by the haloscope. Using this, we repurpose data collected to search for dark matter to set a limit on the axion photon coupling of a CaB originating from dark matter cascade decay via a mediator in the 800-995MHz frequency range. We find that the present sensitivity is limited by fluctuations in the cavity readout as the instrument scans across dark matter masses. Nevertheless, we suggest that these challenges can be surmounted using superconducting qubits as single photon counters, and allow ADMX to operate as a telescope searching for axions emerging from the decay of dark matter. The daily modulation analysis technique we introduce can be deployed for various broadband rf signals, such as other forms of a CaB or even high-frequency gravitational waves.

Searching for time-dependent axion dark matter signals in pulsars

Searching for time-dependent axion dark matter signals in pulsars

Worldline effective field theory of inspiralling black hole binaries in presence of dark photon and axionic dark matter

We investigate the correction to the potential that gives rise to the bound orbits and radiation from non-spinning inspiralling binary black holes in a dark matter environment consisting of axion-like particles and dark photons using the techniques of Worldline Effective Field Theory. We compute the conservative dynamics up to 1PN order for gravitational, electromagnetic, and Proca fields and up to 2PN order for the scalar field. The effect of axion-electromagnetic coupling (gaγγ) arises to the conservative dynamics at 2.5PN order and the kinetic mixing constant (γ) at 1PN order. Furthermore, we calculate the radiation due to the various fields present in our theory. We find that the contribution of gaγγ to the gravitational radiation appears at N(7)LO and to the scalar radiation appears at N(5)LO. We also find that these radiative corrections due to the coupling gaγγ vanishes for any orbit confined to a plane because of the existence of a binormal like term in effective radiative action but give rise to non-zero contributions for any orbit that lies in three dimensions. Last but not the least, γ contributes to the gravitational radiation at N(2)LO and N(4)LO.

Exploring high-frequency gravitational waves with magnons

Detecting gravitational waves with frequencies higher than 10 kHz requires new strategies. In previous papers, we proposed magnon gravitational wave detectors and gave the first limit on gigahertz gravitational waves by reinterpreting the existing data from axion dark matter experiments. In this paper, we show that the sensitivity can be improved by constructing the detector specific to gravitational waves. In particular, we employ an infinite sum of terms in the expansion of Fermi normal coordinates to probe gravitational waves with a wavelength comparable to the detector size. As a consequence, we obtain sensitivity of around h_c sim 10^{-20}.

Discovering QCD-coupled axion dark matter with polarization haloscopes

Discovering QCD-coupled axion dark matter with polarization haloscopes

Extended Axion Dark Matter Search Using the CAPP18T Haloscope.

We report an extended search for the axion dark matter using the CAPP18T haloscope. The CAPP18T experiment adopts innovative technologies of a high-temperature superconducting magnet and a Josephson parametric converter. The CAPP18T detector was reconstructed after an unexpected incident of the high-temperature superconducting magnet quenching. The system reconstruction includes rebuilding the magnet, improving the impedance matching in the microwave chain, and mechanically readjusting the tuning rod to the cavity for improved thermal contact. The total system noise temperature is ∼0.6 K. The coupling between the cavity and the strong antenna is maintained at β≃2 to enhance the axion search scanning speed. The scan frequency range is from 4.8077 to 4.8181GHz. No significant indication of the axion dark matter signature is observed. The results set the best upper bound of the axion-photon-photon coupling (g_{aγγ}) in the mass ranges of 19.883 to 19.926 μeV at ∼0.7×|g_{aγγ}^{KSVZ}| or ∼1.9×|g_{aγγ}^{DFSZ}| with 90%confidence level. The results demonstrate that a reliable search of the high-mass dark matter axions can be achieved beyond the benchmark models using the technology adopted in CAPP18T.

Methods and restrictions to increase the volume of resonant rectangular-section haloscopes for detecting dark matter axions

Haloscopes are resonant cavities that serve as detectors of dark matter axions when they are immersed in a strong static magnetic field. In order to increase the volume and improve space compatibility with dipole or solenoid magnets for axion searches, various haloscope design techniques for rectangular geometries are discussed in this study. The volume limits of two types of haloscopes are explored: those based on single cavities and those based on multicavities. In both cases, possibilities for increasing the volume of long and/or tall structures are presented. For multicavities, 1D geometries are explored to optimise the space in the magnets. Also, 2D and 3D geometries are introduced as a first step in laying the foundations for the development of these kinds of topologies. The results prove the usefulness of the developed methods, evidencing the ample room for improvement in rectangular haloscope designs nowadays. A factor of three orders of magnitude improvement in volume compared with a single cavity based on the WR-90 standard waveguide is obtained with the design of a long and tall single cavity. Similar procedures have been applied for long and tall multicavities. Experimental measurements are shown for prototypes based on tall multicavities and 2D structures, demonstrating the feasibility of using these types of geometries to increase the volume of real haloscopes.

High-Quality Axions in a Class of Chiral U(1) Gauge Theories.

We show that there are many candidates for the quintessence and/or the QCD axions in a class of chiral U(1) gauge theories. Their qualities are high enough to serve as the dark energy and/or to solve the strong CP problem. Interestingly, the high quality of axion is guaranteed by the gauged U(1) and Z_{2N} symmetries and hence free from the nonperturbative quantum gravity corrections. Furthermore, our mechanism can be easily applied to the Fuzzy dark matter axion scenarios.

Search for ultralight axion dark matter in a side-band analysis of a ${}^{199}$Hg free-spin precession signal

Ultra-low-mass axions are a viable dark matter candidate and may form a coherently oscillating classical field. Nuclear spins in experiments on Earth might couple to this oscillating axion dark-matter field, when propagating on Earth’s trajectory through our Galaxy. This spin coupling resembles an oscillating pseudo-magnetic field which modulates the spin precession of nuclear spins. Here we report on the null result of a demonstration experiment searching for a frequency modulation of the free spin-precession signal of 199Hg in a magnetic field. Our search covers the axion mass range 10^{-16} \textrm{eV} \lesssim m_a \lesssim 10^{-13} \textrm{eV}10−16eV≲ma≲10−13eV and achieves a peak sensitivity to the axion-nucleon coupling of g_{aNN} \approx 3.5 \times 10^{-6} \textrm{GeV}^{-1}gaNN≈3.5×10−6GeV−1.