QUAX: Probing Axion Dark Matter through quantum technologies (Gianni Carugno, INFN Padova)

by Gianni Carugno

Monday Oct 6, 2025, 2:00 PM → 4:00 PM Europe/Paris

amphi Charpak

The QUest for Axion (QUAX) is a direct-detection CDM axion search which reaches the sensitivity necessary for the detection of galactic QCD-axion in the range of frequency 8.5-11 GHz.

In this talk we will report about results obtained, using a high quality factor dielectric cavity cooled at less than 100 mK inside a dilution refrigerator equipped with a 8 T magnet with a JPA and TWPA-based amplification chain for cavity signal  readout, resulting in a system noise temperature at the quantum limit.

Results will presented for the axion-electron and axion-photon coupling around the 10 GHz frequency range.

We will also report about a side experiment aimed at increasing the scanning speed with application of transmon-based single microwave photon detectors (SMPDs) for cavity readout developed by the CEA Quantronics Group.

This prototype haloscope we developed is based on a cylindrical copper cavity sputtered with NbTi, resonant at 7.3 GHz frequency, and cooled at mK temperatures inside a dilution refrigerator equipped with a SC magnet.