Cavity design for high-frequency axion dark matter detectors

TL;DR

This paper explores cavity design innovations, specifically variable post arrays and vane configurations, to enhance high-frequency axion dark matter detection capabilities above 2 GHz.

Contribution

It introduces and evaluates novel cavity designs that improve sensitivity for high-mass axion searches, achieving performance comparable to multiple coupled cavities.

Findings

Both designs can be used for high-mass axion searches.

Configurations achieve sensitivity similar to four coupled cavities.

Designs extend the frequency range of microwave cavity detectors.

Abstract

In an effort to extend the usefulness of microwave cavity detectors to higher axion masses, above ~8 $\mu$eV (~2 GHz), a numerical trade study of cavities was conducted to investigate the merit of using variable periodic post arrays and regulating vane designs for higher-frequency searches. The results show that both designs could be used to develop resonant cavities for high-mass axion searches. Multiple configurations of both methods obtained the scanning sensitivity equivalent to approximately 4 coherently coupled cavities with a single tuning rod.