Light Dark Matter Axion Detection with Static Electric Field

TL;DR

This paper proposes a novel static electric field detection scheme for axionic dark matter, utilizing a narrow-band resonant setup to enhance sensitivity to axion-photon conversion signals, especially at low axion masses.

Contribution

It introduces a static electric field-based detection method that improves sensitivity and reduces background noise for axion searches, particularly at low masses.

Findings

High $g_{a heta}$ sensitivity achievable with strong electric fields.

QCD axion parameter space accessible with high electric field strengths.

Cryogenic conditions reduce thermal noise, enhancing detection capability.

Abstract

We explore the axionic dark matter search sensitivity with a narrow-band detection scheme aiming at the axion-photon conversion by the static electric field inside a cylindrical capacitor. An alternating magnetic field signal is induced by effective currents as the axion dark matter flows perpendicularly through the electric field. At low axion masses, like in a KKLT scenario, front-end narrow band filtering is provided by using LC resonance with a high $Q$ factor, which enhances the detectability of the tiny magnetic field signal and also leads to a thermal noise as the major background that can be reduced at cryogenic conditions. We demonstrate that high $g_{a\gamma}$ sensitivity can be achieved by using a strong electric field. The QCD axion theoretical parameter space can be reached with high $E\sim$ GVm$^{-1}$ field strength. Using the static electric field scheme essentially avoids exposing the sensitive superconducting pickup to an applied laboratory magnetic field.