Speaker
Description
Axions remain one of the most compelling dark matter candidates, arising from the Peccei–Quinn solution to the strong CP problem. Detecting them requires sensitivity to microwave signals with power levels below
10^−22W.
Haloscope experiments search for photons generated through axion–photon conversion in resonant cavities embedded in strong magnetic fields. Achieving the required sensitivity demands cryogenic operation at millikelvin temperatures, ultra-low-noise amplification, and quantum-aware measurement strategies.
The Quantum Sensors of the Hidden Sector (QSHS) group at the University of Sheffield is commissioning a new axion haloscope that integrates advanced microwave engineering, dilution refrigeration, and quantum-limited detection to extend the search for axion dark matter.