Collaborative Research: ADMX-HF Early Start

所有天体物理和宇宙学数据现在都令人信服地指出，宇宙中有很大一部分冷暗物质(CDM)，但尚未直接探测到暗物质粒子。一个动机良好的可能候选人是一位轻轴子。如果轴子构成我们银河系晕的暗物质，它们可以通过将它们转换成狭窄的微波信号，由一个被磁场渗透的微波腔谐振器组成的设备来探测到。利用这个概念，轴子暗物质实验(ADMX)已经在几个微电子伏特的质量范围内对这样的轴子进行了搜索。最近建立了一个名为ADMX-HF(高频)的较小微波腔实验，专门用于探索更高范围的轴子质量。ADMX-HF还作为微波腔和放大器技术创新的试验台，这些技术可以移植到更大的ADMX平台上。ADMX-HF和ADMX以“一个实验，两个站点”的方式运作，共享专业知识、技术和数据。此次获奖将扩大双方的合作，以加快ADMX-HF的建设，并极大地扩展其初始能力。广泛的影响：ADMX已被证明是技术驱动因素，因为为ADMX开发的SQUID放大器等组件已被用于其他目的。ADMX-HF将开发的创新也具有同样广阔的潜力。PI和Co-PI都是坚定的教育工作者，在让本科生参与他们的研究和让公众参与方面有着长期的经验。由该奖项资助的研究将为他们参与的其他教育和推广活动提供信息。

All astrophysical and cosmological data now point convincingly to a large component of Cold Dark Matter (CDM) in the Universe, but a dark matter particle has yet to be directly detected. A well-motivated possible candidate is a light axion. Should axions constitute the dark matter of our Milky Way halo, they may be detected through their conversion into a narrow microwave signal by an apparatus consisting of a microwave cavity resonator permeated by a magnetic field. Using this concept the Axion Dark Matter eXperiment (ADMX) has performed a search for such axions within the mass range of a few micro-eV. Recently a smaller microwave cavity experiment was constructed called ADMX-HF (High Frequency), specifically to explore higher ranges of axion masses. ADMX-HF also serves as a test-bed for innovations in microwave cavity and amplifier technologies that could be migrated to the larger ADMX platform. ADMX-HF and ADMX operate as "one experiment, two sites", sharing expertise, technology, and data. This award will expand the collaboration to accelerate the construction of ADMX-HF as well as dramatically expand its initial capability.Broader Impacts: ADMX has proven to be a technology driver as components such as the SQUID amplifiers developed for ADMX are already being used for other purposes. Innovations to be developed by ADMX-HF have similarly broad potential. Both PI and Co-PI are committed educators with long experience in involving undergraduate students in their research and engaging the public. The research funded through this award will inform additional education and outreach initiatives with which they are involved.