Axion Dark Matter Search Research Articles

Dark matter Axion search with riNg Cavity Experiment DANCE: Design and development of auxiliary cavity for simultaneous resonance of linear polarizations

Axion-like particles (ALPs) are undiscovered pseudo-scalar particles that are candidates for ultralight dark matter. ALPs interact with photons slightly and cause the rotational oscillation of linearly polarized light. Dark matter Axion search with riNg Cavity Experiment (DANCE) searches for ALP dark matter by amplifying the rotational oscillation with a bow-tie ring cavity. Simultaneous resonance of linear polarizations is necessary to amplify both the carrier field and the ALP signal, and to achieve the design sensitivity. The sensitivity of the current prototype experiment DANCE Act-1 is less than expectation by around three orders of magnitude due to the resonant frequency difference between s- and p-polarization in the bow-tie ring cavity. In order to tune the resonant frequency difference, the method of introducing an auxiliary cavity was proposed. We designed an auxiliary cavity that can cancel out the resonant frequency difference and realize simultaneous resonance, considering optical loss. We also confirmed that the sensitivity of DANCE Act-1 with the auxiliary cavity can reach the original sensitivity.

New opportunities for axion dark matter searches in nonstandard cosmological models

We study axion dark matter production from a misalignment mechanism in scenarios featuring a general nonstandard cosmology. Before the onset of Big Bang nucleosynthesis, the energy density of the universe is dominated by a particle field ϕ described by a general equation of state ω. The ensuing enhancement of the Hubble expansion rate decreases the temperature at which axions start to oscillate, opening this way the possibility for axions heavier than in the standard window. This is the case for kination, or in general for scenarios with ω > 1/3. However, if ω < 1/3, as in the case of an early matter domination, the decay of ϕ injects additional entropy relative to the case of the standard model, diluting this way the preexisting axion abundance, and rendering lighter axions viable. For a misalignment angle 0.5 < θ_i < π/√(3), the usual axion window becomes expanded to 4 × 10-9 eV ≲ ma ≲ 2 × 10-5 eV for the case of an early matter domination, or to 2 × 10-6 eV ≲ ma ≲ 10-2 eV for the case of kination. Interestingly, the coupling axion-photon in such a wider range can be probed with next generation experiments such as ABRACADABRA, KLASH, ADMX, MADMAX, and ORGAN. Axion dark matter searches may therefore provide a unique tool to probe the history of the universe before Big Bang nucleosynthesis.

Axion dark matter search using arm cavity transmitted beams of gravitational wave detectors

Axion is a promising candidate for ultralight dark matter which may cause a polarization rotation of laser light. Recently, a new idea of probing the axion dark matter by optical linear cavities used in the arms of gravitational wave detectors has been proposed [Phys. Rev. Lett. 123, 111301 (2019)]. In this article, a realistic scheme of the axion dark matter search with the arm cavity transmission ports is revisited. Since photons detected by the transmission ports travel in the cavity for odd-number of times, the effect of axion dark matter on their phases is not cancelled out and the sensitivity at low-mass range is significantly improved compared to the search using reflection ports. We also take into account the stochastic nature of the axion field and the availability of the two detection ports in the gravitational wave detectors. The sensitivity to the axion-photon coupling, $g_{a\gamma}$, of the ground-based gravitational wave detector, such as Advanced LIGO, with 1-year observation is estimated to be $g_{a\gamma} \sim 3\times10^{-12}$ GeV$^{-1}$ below the axion mass of $10^{-15}$ eV, which improves upon the limit achieved by the CERN Axion Solar Telescope.

CAPP-8TB: Axion dark matter search experiment around 6.7 [formula omitted]ev

CAPP-8TB is an axion dark matter search experiment dedicated to an axion mass search near 6.7μeV. The experiment uses a microwave resonant cavity under a strong magnetic field of 8T produced by a superconducting solenoid magnet in a dilution refrigerator. We describe the experimental configuration used to search for a mass range of 6.62 to 6.82μeV in the first phase of the experiment. We also discuss the next phase of the experiment and its prospects.

Direct excitation of the magnetisation in photon-magnon hybrid systems with an infrared laser pulse

We present experimental results concerning the direct excitation of the magnetisation in a photon-magnon hybrid system composed of a microwave cavity and an embedded yttrium iron garnet (YIG) sphere. An 11 ps ultrafast pulsed laser, with wavelength of 1064 nm outside the YIG transparence window, directly excite the magnon modes. We measure the energy deposited in the Kittel mode of magnetisation by exploiting its coupling to the TE102 mode of the rectangular microwave cavity in the strong coupling regime. Energy collection is performed by a standard rf detection chain reading an antenna matched to the cavity resonance. This technique can prove to be essential in the study of the dynamics of cavity magnon-polaritons, finding application in dark matter axion searches and future magnon based quantum information studies.

A symmetric multi-rod tunable microwave cavity for a microwave cavity dark matter axion search.

The microwave cavity technique is currently the most sensitive way of looking for dark matter axions in the 0.1 GHz-10 GHz range, corresponding to masses of 0.41 µeV-41 µeV. A particular challenge for frequencies greater than 5 GHz is designing a cavity with a large volume that contains a resonant mode that shows high coupling to dark matter axions, a high quality factor, is broadly tunable, and is free from intruder modes. For the Haloscope at Yale Sensitive to Axion Cold dark matter, we have designed and constructed an optimized high frequency cavity with a tuning mechanism that preserves a high degree of rotational symmetry, critical to maximizing its figure of merit. This cavity covers an important frequency range according to recent theoretical estimates for the axion mass, 5.5 GHz-7.4 GHz, and the design appears extendable to higher frequencies as well. This paper will discuss key design and construction details of the cavity, present a summary of the design evolution, and alert practitioners of potentially unfruitful avenues for future work.

A quantum enhanced search for dark matter axions.

The manipulation of quantum states of light1 holds the potential to enhance searches for fundamental physics. Only recently has the maturation of quantum squeezing technology coincided with the emergence of fundamental physics searches that are limited by quantum uncertainty2,3. In particular, the quantum chromodynamics axion provides a possible solution to two of the greatest outstanding problems in fundamental physics: the strong-CP (charge-parity) problem of quantum chromodynamics4 and the unknown nature of dark matter5-7. In dark matter axion searches, quantum uncertainty manifests as a fundamental noise source, limiting the measurement of the quadrature observables used for detection. Few dark matter searches have approached this limit3,8, and until now none has exceeded it. Here we use vacuum squeezing to circumvent the quantum limit in a search for dark matter. By preparing a microwave-frequency electromagnetic field in a squeezed state and near-noiselessly reading out only the squeezed quadrature9, we double the search rate for axions over a mass range favoured by some recent theoretical projections10,11. We find no evidence of dark matter within the axion rest energy windows of 16.96-17.12 and 17.14-17.28 microelectronvolts. Breaking through the quantum limit invites an era of fundamental physics searches in which noise reduction techniques yield unbounded benefit compared with the diminishing returns of approaching the quantum limit.

Cosmological tension of ultralight axion dark matter and its solutions

A number of proposed and ongoing experiments search for axion dark matter with a mass nearing the limit set by small scale structure [$\mathcal{O}({10}^{\ensuremath{-}21}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{eV})$]. We consider the late universe cosmology of these models, showing that requiring the axion to have a matter-power spectrum that matches that of cold dark matter constrains the magnitude of the axion couplings to the visible sector. Comparing these limits to current and future experimental efforts, we find that many searches require axions with an abnormally large coupling to Standard Model fields, independently of how the axion was populated in the early Universe. We survey mechanisms that can alleviate the bounds, namely, the introduction of large charges, various forms of kinetic mixing, a clockwork structure, and imposing a discrete symmetry. We provide an explicit model for each case and explore their phenomenology and viability to produce detectable ultralight axion dark matter.

Investigation of magnetic noise from conductive shields in the 10–300 kHz frequency range

We present experimental and theoretical investigations of magnetic noise originating from radio-frequency (RF) conductive shields of flat geometry in the inductance-dominated impedance regime below 300 kHz. The measurement is based on a Q-factor determination of a coil that provides a sufficient sensitivity, placed at the position where the shield magnetic noise is measured. The theory is based on calculations of magnetic field and inductance of one or a few flat rings that emulate a conductive shield. The theoretical model is found to be in close agreement with experimental data. It can be used to predict the magnetic noise of a conductive shield with different thicknesses, conductivities, and temperatures at different distances for a wide range of frequencies. Although the model can be generalized for a more arbitrary shield geometry, in its presented form, it can be applied to the magnetic noise predictions when the shield surface curvature is not large. One important conclusion is that the RF conductive shield can generate the magnetic noise much lower than femtotesla, and, thus, it can be used in many precision experiments targeting minute high-frequency magnetic signals, such as detection of magnetic resonance imaging and nuclear quadrupole resonance signals and search for axion dark matter.

Search for Invisible Axion Dark Matter with a Multiple-Cell Haloscope.

We present the first results of a search for invisible axion dark matter using a multiple-cell cavity haloscope. This cavity concept was proposed to provide a highly efficient approach to high-mass regions compared to the conventional multiple-cavity design, with larger detection volume, simpler detector setup, and a unique phase-matching mechanism. Searches with a double-cell cavity superseded previous reports for the axion-photon coupling over the mass range between 13.0 and 13.9 μeV. This result not only demonstrates the novelty of the cavity concept for high-mass axion searches, but also suggests it can make considerable contributions to the next-generation experiments.

Determination of niobium cavity magnetic field screening via a dispersively hybridized magnonic sensor

A method for determining the internal DC magnetic field inside a superconducting cavity is presented. The method relies on the relationship between the magnetic field and frequency of the Kittel mode of a ferrimagnetic sphere, hybridized in the dispersive regime of the superconducting cavity. Results were used to experimentally determine the level of screening that a superconducting Nb cavity provides as it changes from perfect diamagnetism to no screening. Two cavity geometries were tested, a cylinder and single post re-entrant cavity. Both demonstrated a consistent value of field that enters the cavity, expected to be the superheating critical field. Hysteresis in the screened field during ramp up and ramp down of the external magnetic field due to trapped vortices was also observed. Some abnormal behavior was observed in the cylindrical cavity in the form of plateaus in the internal field above the first critical field, and we discuss the potential origin of this behavior. The measurement approach would be a useful diagnosis for axion dark matter searches, which plans on using superconducting materials but needs to know precisely the internal magnetic field.

Graphene-based Josephson junction microwave bolometer.

Sensitive microwave detectors are essential in radioastronomy1, dark-matter axion searches2 and superconducting quantum information science3,4. The conventional strategy to obtain higher-sensitivity bolometry is the nanofabrication of ever smaller devices to augment the thermal response5-7. However, it is difficult to obtain efficient photon coupling and tomaintain the material properties in a device with a large surface-to-volume ratio owing to surface contamination. Here we present an ultimately thin bolometric sensor based on monolayer graphene. To utilize the minute electronic specific heat and thermal conductivity of graphene, we develop a superconductor-graphene-superconductor Josephson junction8-13 bolometer embedded in a microwave resonator with a resonance frequency of 7.9 gigahertz and over 99 per cent coupling efficiency. The dependence of the Josephson switching current on the operating temperature, charge density, input power and frequency shows a noise-equivalent power of 7×10-19 watts per square-root hertz, which corresponds to an energy resolution of a single 32-gigahertz photon14, reaching the fundamental limit imposed by intrinsic thermal fluctuations at 0.19 kelvin. Our results establish that two-dimensional materials could enable the development of bolometers with the highest sensitivity allowed by the laws of thermodynamics.

High quality factor photonic cavity for dark matter axion searches.

Searches for dark matter axions involve the use of microwave resonant cavities operating in a strong magnetic field. Detector sensitivity is directly related to the cavity quality factor, which is limited, until recently, to the use of non-superconducting metals by the presence of the external magnetic field. In this paper, we present a cavity of novel design whose quality factor is not affected by a magnetic field. It is based on a photonic structure by the use of sapphire rods. The quality factor at cryogenic temperature is in excess of 5 × 105 for a selected mode.

Noise Temperature Measurements for Axion Haloscope Experiments at IBS/CAPP

The axion was first introduced as a consequence of the Peccei-Quinn mechanism to solve the CP problem in strong interactions of particle physics and is a well motivated cold dark matter candidate. This particle is expected to interact extremely weakly with matter and its mass is expected to lie in $\mu$eV range with the corresponding frequency roughly in GHz range. In 1983 P. Sikivie proposed a detection scheme, so called axion haloscope, where axions resonantly convert to photons in a tunable microwave cavity permeated by a strong magnetic field. A major source of the experimental noise is attributed to added noise by RF amplifiers, and thus precise understandings of amplifiers' noise is of importance. We present the measurements of noise temperatures of various low noise amplifiers broadly used for axion dark matter searches.

Improved analysis framework for axion dark matter searches

In experiments searching for axionic dark matter, the use of the standard threshold-based data analysis discards valuable information. We present a Bayesian analysis framework that builds on an existing processing protocol to extract more information from the data of coherent axion detectors such as operating haloscopes. The analysis avoids logical subtleties that accompany the standard analysis framework and enables greater experimental flexibility on future data runs. Performing this analysis on the existing data from the HAYSTAC experiment, we find improved constraints on the axion-photon coupling $g_\gamma$ while also identifying the most promising regions of parameter space within the $23.15$--$24.0$ $\mu$eV mass range. A comparison with the standard threshold analysis suggests a $36\%$ improvement in scan rate from our analysis, demonstrating the utility of this framework for future axion haloscope analyses.

A formalism for magnon gravitational wave detectors

In order to detect high frequency gravitational waves, we need a new detection method. In this paper, we develop a formalism for a gravitational wave detector using magnons in a cavity. Using Fermi normal coordinates and taking the non-relativistic limit, we obtain a Hamiltonian for magnons in gravitational wave backgrounds. Given the Hamiltonian, we show how to use the magnons for detecting high frequency gravitational waves. Furthermore, as a demonstration of the magnon gravitational wave detector, we give upper limits on GHz gravitational waves by utilizing known results of magnon experiments for an axion dark matter search.

Electric dipole moments of atoms and molecules produced by enhanced nuclear Schiff moments

We perform calculations of the CP-violating atomic and molecular electric dipole moments (EDM) induced by the interaction of the nuclear Schiff moments with electrons. EDM of atoms Eu, Dy, Gd, Ac, Th, Pa, U, Np and Pu are of special interest since they have isotopes with strongly enhanced nuclear Schiff moments caused by the octupole nuclear deformation or soft octupole vibration mode. These atoms have open 4f or 5f shells making the calculations complicated. We use our special version of the configuration interaction method combined with the many-body perturbation theory method adopted for open f-shell case. To validate the method we perform similar calculations for simpler atoms (Xe, Hg, Tl+, Pb, Pb++, Rn, Ra) where some earlier results are available. In addition we present the estimates of the CP-violating nuclear spin - molecular axis interaction constants for molecules which may be of experimental interest including AcF, EuN, ThO, PbO and TlF. We also present updated values of the nuclear Schiff moments and atomic and molecular EDM expressed in terms of the CP-violating pi-meson - nucleon interaction constants g_0,g_1, g_2, QCD parameter theta and quark chromo-EDMs. The results may be used to test CP-violation theories and search for axion dark matter in atomic, molecular and solid state experiments.

Axion Dark Matter Search around 6.7 μeV.

An axion dark matter search with the CAPP-8TB haloscope is reported. Our results are sensitive to axion-photon coupling g_{aγγ} down to the QCD axion band over the axion mass range between 6.62 and 6.82 μeV at a 90%confidence level, which is the most sensitive result in the mass range to date.

Extended Search for the Invisible Axion with the Axion Dark Matter Experiment.

This Letter reports on a cavity haloscope search for dark matter axions in the Galactic halo in the mass range 2.81-3.31 μeV. This search utilizes the combination of a low-noise Josephson parametric amplifier and a large-cavity haloscope to achieve unprecedented sensitivity across this mass range. This search excludes the full range of axion-photon coupling values predicted in benchmark models of the invisible axion that solve the strong CP problem of quantum chromodynamics.

From Manufacture to Assembly of the 43 T Grenoble Hybrid Magnet

The Grenoble Hybrid magnet is a modular platform applying resistive and superconducting technologies to deliver various continuous high magnetic field and flux configurations. They range from 43 T in 34 mm diameter with 24 MW down to 9 T in 800 mm with the superconducting coil alone. Thanks to the ongoing upgrade of the electrical power installation of LNCMI-Grenoble up to 30 MW and possibly to 36 MW, the possibility to increase the total field up to 45–46 T in the future is considered and needs to be assessed by further dedicated studies. The key design parameters are recalled including the specifically developed superconducting conductor, the large bore outsert coil, the cryostat with the eddy-current shield and the cryogenic infrastructure. Most of the equipment of the hybrid magnet outsert has been built, tested and delivered to LNCMI-Grenoble, where integration and assembly is ongoing. The dedicated material development program initiated for the innermost resistive insert is in progress. The status of the project is given together with the main problems encountered and solved. The commissioning of the overall hybrid magnet system will start in 2020 and will be followed possibly by the first run of a new axion dark matter search experiment in preparation.