Axion Dark Matter Experiment at High Frequency (ADMX-HF)

天体物理和宇宙学数据令人信服地指出，宇宙中有很大一部分冷暗物质，但这种暗物质的性质仍然未知。轴子可能是暗物质的候选者。该奖项将支持轴子暗物质实验-高频(ADMX-HF)，该实验在银晕中搜索轴子。ADMX-HF将ADMX实验的范围扩展到更高的频段，既探测具有痕量质量的轴子，又探测具有足够质量的轴子，以解释宇宙中所有的物质密度。因此，ADMX-HF是一个独一无二的强大的轴子暗物质探测器。已经开发了几种支持ADMX-HF的新技术。这些方法在其他领域的高精度测量中具有潜在的应用价值。该研究小组有雇用本科生的历史，该研究提供实验控制和数据分析软件、机械和电子组装领域的培训和经验。银河晕中的Axion可以通过由渗透磁场的微波腔谐振器组成的设备转换为窄带微波信号。ADMX-HF是一项小型微波腔实验，既可以作为在10到100微电子伏范围内获取第一批数据的探索者，也可以作为开发新的腔体和量子限制光子检测方案的试验台，这些方案可以移植到更大的ADMX平台。所有主要系统都已建成，并正在整合到实验中，很快就会开始全面调试。在此授奖期间，ADMX-HF应该过渡到常规的数据采集操作，并探测16.5至66微电子伏特范围，将对应于宇宙物质密度饱和的轴子质量包括在内。

Astrophysical and cosmological data point convincingly to a large component of cold dark matter in the Universe, but the nature of that dark matter is still unknown. Axions are possible dark matter candidates. This award will support the Axion Dark Matter eXperiment - High Frequency (ADMX-HF), which searches for Axions in the galactic halo. ADMX-HF extends the range of the ADMX experiment to the higher frequency band that probes both Axions with trace mass and Axions with sufficient mass to account for all the matter density in the Universe. ADMX-HF is therefore a uniquely powerful probe of Axion dark matter. Several new technologies have been developed in support of ADMX-HF. These have potential applications for high-precision measurements in other fields. The group has a history of employing undergraduates in the research, which provides training and experience in the areas of experimental control and data analysis software, mechanical and electronic assembly.Axions in the galactic halo can be converted into a narrow-band microwave signal by an apparatus consisting of a microwave-cavity resonator permeated by a magnetic field. ADMX-HF is a small microwave cavity experiment that serves as both a pathfinder to take first data in the 10 to 100 micro-electronvolt range and as a test-bed for developing new cavities and quantum-limited photon detection schemes that could be migrated to the larger ADMX platform. All major systems have been constructed and are being integrated into the experiment with full commissioning to begin soon. During this award period ADMX-HF should transition to routine data-taking operation and probe the 16.5 to 66 micro-electronvolt range, bracketing the mass of the axion that corresponds to saturation of the matter density of the universe.