New Windows on Fundamental Physics: from tabletop devices to large scale detectors

A high quality factor dielectric Fabry-Perot cavity for detecting dark matter axions

Not scheduled

30m

Jocelyn Bell Burnell Lecture Theatre (University of Manchester)

Poster (main workshop)

Speaker

Jonathan Gosling (Imperial College London)

Description

The axion, as well as being a proposed solution to the strong CP problem, is a well-motivated candidate for dark matter [1]. The Quantum Enhanced Particle Astrophysics (QuEPA) project at Imperial College London looks to detect axions with a microwave cavity and trapped electrons. Towards this goal, a dielectric Fabry-Perot cavity has been developed as a dark matter haloscope to convert axions to microwave photons when the cavity is placed in a strong, homogeneous magnetic field [2]. The goal is to explore in the 125-250 µeV (30-60 GHz) mass range.
This poster will present the motivations and benefits of using this type of cavity for a dark matter axion search and the latest experimental results in the characterisation of this cavity.
[1] D. Marsh, Physics Reports 643 (2016) P1-79 DOI: 10.1016/j.physrep.2016.06.005.
[2] I. G. Irastorza and J. Redondo, Progress in Particle and Nuclear Physics 102 P89-159 (2018) DOI:10.1016/j.ppnp.2018.05.003.