Dielectric haloscopes to search for axion dark matter: theoretical foundations

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2017 · Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/1475-7516/2017/01/061· OSTI ID:22680059

Millar, Alexander J.; Raffelt, Georg G.; Redondo, Javier

We study the underlying theory of dielectric haloscopes, a new way to detect dark matter axions. When an interface between different dielectric media is inside a magnetic field, the oscillating axion field acts as a source of electromagnetic waves, which emerge in both directions perpendicular to the surface. The emission rate can be boosted by multiple layers judiciously placed to achieve constructive interference and by a large transverse area. Starting from the axion-modified Maxwell equations, we calculate the efficiency of this new dielectric haloscope approach. This technique could potentially search the unexplored high-frequency range of 10–100 GHz (axion mass 40–400 μeV), where traditional cavity resonators have difficulties reaching the required volume.

• OSTI ID: 22680059
• Journal Information: Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, Vol. 2017, Issue 01; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1475-7516
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTROPHYSICS
COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY
CAVITY RESONATORS
DIELECTRIC MATERIALS
EFFICIENCY
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EMISSION
FOUNDATIONS
GHZ RANGE
INTERFACES
INTERFERENCE
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MASS
MAXWELL EQUATIONS
NONLUMINOUS MATTER
SURFACES