A prototype hybrid mode cavity for heterodyne axion detection

Journal Article · Thu Mar 12 00:00:00 EDT 2026 · Nucl.Instrum.Meth.A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2026.171474· OSTI ID:2572657

Li, Zenghai ^[1]; Zhou, Kevin ^[2]; Oriunno, Marco ^[1]; Berlin, Asher ^[3]; Calatroni, Sergio ^[4]; Tito D'Agnolo, Raffaele ^[5]; Ellis, Sebastian A.R. ^[6]; Schuster, Philip ^[1]; Tantawi, Sami G. ^[7]; Toro, Natalia ^[1]

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1. SLAC
2. UC, Berkeley; LBL, Berkeley
3. Fermilab
4. CERN
5. IPhT, Saclay; LPENS, Paris
6. Geneva U., CAP; Geneva U., Dept. Theor. Phys.
7. SLAC; Arizona State U.

In the heterodyne approach to axion detection, axion dark matter induces transitions between two modes of a microwave cavity, resulting in a parametrically enhanced signal power. We describe the fabrication and characterization of a prototype normal conducting cavity specifically optimized for heterodyne detection. Corrugations on the cavity walls support linearly polarized hybrid modes which maximize the signal power while strongly suppressing noise. We demonstrate tuning mechanisms which allow one mode frequency to be scanned across a 4 MHz range, while suppressing cross-coupling noise by at least 80 dB. A future superconducting cavity with identical geometry to our prototype would have the potential to probe orders of magnitude beyond astrophysical bounds.

• Research Organization: Arizona State U.; CERN; Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States); Geneva U., CAP; Geneva U., Dept. Theor. Phys.; IPhT, Saclay; LPENS, Paris; Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States); SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States); UC, Berkeley
• Sponsoring Organization: US Department of Energy
• Grant/Contract Number: 89243024CSC000002
• OSTI ID: 2572657
• Report Number(s): FERMILAB-PUB-25-0465-PPD; oai:inspirehep.net:2944561; arXiv:2507.07173
• Journal Information: Nucl.Instrum.Meth.A, Journal Name: Nucl.Instrum.Meth.A Vol. 1088
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English