MADMAX: A new way of probing QCD Axion Dark Matter with a Dielectric Haloscope -- Foundations

TL;DR

MADMAX proposes a novel dielectric haloscope method with multiple disks to detect QCD axion dark matter in a mass range inaccessible to current cavity experiments, leveraging constructive interference and resonances.

Contribution

This paper introduces the foundational concept and expected sensitivity of MADMAX, a new dielectric haloscope design for axion detection in the 40-400 microelectronvolt range.

Findings

Proposed MADMAX setup with 80 dielectric disks in a 10 T magnetic field.

Expected to probe axion masses of 40-400 microelectronvolts.

Enhanced sensitivity through constructive interference and resonances.

Abstract

In contrast to WIMPs, light Dark Matter candidates have increasingly come under the focus of scientific interest. In particular the QCD axion is also able to solve other fundamental problems such as CP-conservation in strong interactions. Galactic axions, axion-like particles and hidden photons can be converted to photons at boundaries between materials of different dielectric constants under a strong magnetic field. Combining many such surfaces, one can enhance this conversion significantly using constructive interference and resonances. The proposed MADMAX setup containing 80 high dielectric disks in a \SI{10}{\tesla} magnetic field would probe the well-motivated mass range of $40$--\SI{400}{\micro\electronvolt}, a range which is at present inaccessible by existing cavity searches. We present the foundations of this approach and its expected sensitivity.