Search for axion dark matter with high-frequency microwaves

by Dr Akira Miyazaki (IJCLab, Université Paris-Saclay)

Thursday 9 Apr 2026, 10:30 → 12:30 Europe/Stockholm

Beurlingrummet (Å10238) (Ångströmlaboratoriet)

Abstract 

One of the pressing problems of the established Standard Model (SM) of particle physics is the absence of a viable dark matter (DM) candidate. A promising candidate, the axion—a pseudo–Nambu–Goldstone boson—emerges in minimal extensions of the SM that introduce an additional global U(1) symmetry to naturally resolve the lack of CP violation in QCD (the strong CP problem). Axions interact very weakly with photons through mixing with pions, and dark matter axions may convert into microwave photons in the presence of a static magnetic field via the inverse Primakoff effect.

 

To overcome the energy–momentum mismatch between microwave photons and non-relativistic axions, specially designed resonator structures are employed. These microwave resonators exhibit strong technical synergy with other research fields, including particle accelerators, astrophysics, and telecommunications. In this seminar, we discuss the basic physics of axion detection schemes worldwide, with particular focus on two competing projects in Sweden (ALPHA) and France (MADMAX). We highlight their complementary approaches to probing dark matter physics. If time permits, we will also briefly review the current state of the art in quantum detection schemes for dark matter axions, especially their connection to quantum optics—an area not traditionally emphasized in particle physics.