arXiv subjects

Yannis K. Semertzidis

Publications and source records attributed to Yannis K. Semertzidis.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2021

New method of probing an oscillating EDM induced by axionlike dark matter using an RF Wien Filter in storage rings

A hypothetical pseudo-scalar particle axion, which is an immediate result of the Peccei-Quinn solution to the strong CP problem, may couple to gluons and lead to an oscillating electric dipole moment (EDM) of fundamental particles. This paper proposes a novel method of probing the axion-induced oscillating EDM in storage rings, using a radiofrequency (RF) Wien Filter. The Wien Filter at the frequency of the sidebands of the axion and $g-2$ frequency, $f_\text{axion} \pm f_{g-2}$, generates a spin resonance in the presence of an oscillating EDM, as confirmed both by an analytical estimation of the spin equations and independently by simulation. A brief systematic study also shows that this method is unlikely to be limited by Wien Filter misalignment issues.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2021

Axion Dark Matter: How to see it?

The axion is a highly motivated elementary particle which could address two fundamental questions in physics - the strong CP problem and the dark matter mystery. Experimental searches for this hypothetical particle have started to reach theoretically interesting sensitivity levels, particularly in the $μ$eV (GHz) region. They rely on large volume solenoid magnetic fields and microwave resonators with signals read out by quantum noise limited amplifiers. Concurrently, there have been intensive experimental efforts to widen the search range by devising various techniques as well as to enhance sensitivities by implementing advanced technologies. The developments and improvements in these orthogonal approaches will enable us to explore most of the parameter space of the axion and axion-like particles within the next couple of decades, with the 1-25 GHz frequency range to be conquered well within the first decade. We review the experimental aspects of axion physics and discuss the past, present and future of the direct search programs.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2021

A machine learning algorithm for direct detection of axion-like particle domain walls

The Global Network of Optical Magnetometers for Exotic physics searches (GNOME) conducts an experimental search for certain forms of dark matter based on their spatiotemporal signatures imprinted on a global array of synchronized atomic magnetometers. The experiment described here looks for a gradient coupling of axion-like particles (ALPs) with proton spins as a signature of locally dense dark matter objects such as domain walls. In this work, stochastic optimization with machine learning is proposed for use in a search for ALP domain walls based on GNOME data. The validity and reliability of this method were verified using binary classification. The projected sensitivity of this new analysis method for ALP domain-wall crossing events is presented.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2021

Cosmic Axion Force

Nambu-Goldstone bosons, or axions, may be ubiquitous. Some of the axions may have small masses and thus serve as mediators of long-range forces. In this paper, we study the force mediated by an extremely light axion, $ϕ$, between the visible sector and the dark sector, where dark matter lives. Since nature does not preserve the CP symmetry, the coupling between dark matter and $ϕ$ is generically CP-violating. In this case, the induced force is extremely long-range and behaves as an effective magnetic field. If the force acts on electrons or nucleons, the spins of them on Earth precess around a fixed direction towards the galactic center. This provides an experimental opportunity for $ϕ$ with mass, $m_ϕ$, and decay constant, $f_ϕ$, satisfying $m_ϕ\lesssim 10^{-25}\,$ eV, $f_ϕ\lesssim 10^{14}\,$GeV if the daily modulation of the effective magnetic field signals in magnetometers is measured by using the coherent averaging method. The effective magnetic field induced by an axionic compact object, such as an axion domain wall, is also discussed.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2021

First Results from Axion Haloscope at CAPP around 10.7 $μ$eV

The Center for Axion and Precision Physics research at the Institute for Basic Science is searching for axion dark matter using ultra-low temperature microwave resonators. We report the exclusion of the axion mass range 10.7126$-$10.7186 $μ$eV with near Kim-Shifman-Vainshtein-Zakharov (KSVZ) coupling sensitivity and the range 10.16$-$11.37 $μ$eV with about 9 times larger coupling at 90$\%$ confidence level. This is the first axion search result in these ranges. It is also the first with a resonator physical temperature of less than 40 mK.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2021

First prototype of a biaxially textured YBa$_{2}$Cu$_{3}$O$_{7-x}$ microwave cavity in a high magnetic field for dark matter axion search

A high-quality factor microwave resonator in the presence of a strong magnetic field could have a wide range of applications, such as axion dark matter searches where the two aspects must coexist to enhance the experimental sensitivity. We introduce a polygon-shaped cavity design with bi-axially textured YBa$_{2}$Cu$_{3}$O$_{7-x}$ superconducting tapes covering the entire inner wall. Using a 12-sided polygon cavity, we obtain substantially improved quality factors of the TM$_{010}$ mode at 6.9 GHz at 4 K with respect to a copper cavity and observe no considerable degradation in the presence of magnetic fields up to 8 T. This corresponds to the first demonstration of practical applications of superconducting radio frequency technology for axion and other research areas requiring low loss in a strong magnetic field. We address the importance of the successful demonstration and discuss further improvements.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2021

Storage Ring Probes of Dark Matter and Dark Energy

We show that proton storage ring experiments designed to search for proton electric dipole moments can also be used to look for the nearly dc spin precession induced by dark energy and ultra-light dark matter. These experiments are sensitive to both axion-like and vector fields. Current technology permits probes of these phenomena up to three orders of magnitude beyond astrophysical limits. The relativistic boost of the protons in these rings allows this scheme to have sensitivities comparable to atomic co-magnetometer experiments that can also probe similar phenomena. These complementary approaches can be used to extract the micro-physics of a signal, allowing us to distinguish between pseudo-scalar, magnetic and electric dipole moment interactions.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2021

Compact ultracold neutron source concept for low energy accelerator-driven neutron sources

The concept of a small-scale, pulsed-proton accelerator based compact ultracold neutron (UCN) source is presented. The essential idea of the compact UCN source is to enclose a volume of superfluid $^{4}\mathrm{He}$ converter with a supercold moderator in the vicinity of a low-radiation neutron production target from (p, n) reactions. The supercold moderator should possess an ability to produce cold neutron flux with a peak brightness near the single-phonon excitation band of the superfluid $^{4}\mathrm{He}$ converter, thereby augmenting the UCN production in the compact UCN source even with very low intensity of neutron brightness. The performance of the compact UCN source is studied in terms of the UCN production and thermal load in the UCN converter. With the proposed concept of the compact UCN source, a UCN production rate of $P_{\mathrm{UCN}}=80\mathrm{UCN}/\mathrm{cc}/\mathrm{sec}$ in the UCN converter could be obtained while maintaining thermal load of on the superfluid $^{4}\mathrm{He}$ and its container at a level of $22\mathrm{mW}$. This study shows that the compact UCN source can produce a high enough density of UCN at a small-scale, low-energy, pulsed-proton beam facility with reduced efforts on the cooling and radiation protection.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2021

Characterization of a flux-driven Josephson parametric amplifier with near quantum-limited added noise for axion search experiments

The axion, a hypothetical elementary pseudoscalar, is expected to solve the strong CP problem of QCD and is also a promising candidate for dark matter. The most sensitive axion search experiments operate at millikelvin temperatures and hence rely on instrumentation that carries signals from a system at cryogenic temperatures to room temperature instrumentation. One of the biggest limiting factors affecting the parameter scanning speed of these detectors is the noise added by the components in the signal detection chain. Since the first amplifier in the chain limits the minimum noise, low-noise amplification is of paramount importance. This paper reports on the operation of a flux-driven Josephson parametric amplifier (JPA) operating at around 2.3 GHz with added noise approaching the quantum limit. The JPA was employed as a first stage amplifier in an experimental setting similar to the ones used in haloscope axion detectors. By operating the JPA at a gain of 19 dB and cascading it with two cryogenic amplifiers operating at 4 K, noise temperatures as low as 120 mK were achieved for the whole signal detection chain.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2020

Sensitivity improvement in hidden photon detection using resonant cavities

Analogous to the light-shining-through-wall setup proposed for axion-like particle searches, a pair of resonant cavities have been considered to search for an extra U(1) massive gauge boson, called a hidden photon, which mediates the interactions in the hidden sector. We propose a new cavity configuration, consisting of a cylindrical emitter surrounded by a hollow cylindrical detector to remarkably improve experimental sensitivity to hidden photon signals in the $μ$eV mass range. An extensive study was conducted to find the optimal cavity geometry and resonant mode, which yields the best performance. In addition, a feasible application of superconducting RF technology was explored. We found the integration of these potential improvements will enhance the sensitivity to the effective kinetic mixing parameter between the hidden photon and the Standard Model photon by multiple orders of magnitude.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2020

Search for invisible axion dark matter with a multiple-cell haloscope

We present the first results of a search for invisible axion dark matter using a multiple-cell cavity haloscope. This cavity concept was proposed to provide a highly efficient approach to high mass regions compared to the conventional multiple-cavity design, with larger detection volume, simpler detector setup, and unique phase-matching mechanism. Searches with a double-cell cavity superseded previous reports for the axion-photon coupling over the mass range between 13.0 and 13.9$\,μ$eV. This result not only demonstrates the novelty of the cavity concept for high-mass axion searches, but also suggests it can make considerable contributions to the next-generation experiments.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2020

Superconducting cavity in a high magnetic field

A high Q-factor microwave resonator in a high magnetic field could be used in a wide range of applications, especially for enhancing the scanning speed in axion dark matter research. In this letter, we introduce a polygon-shaped resonant cavity with commercial YBCO tapes covering the entire inner wall. We demonstrated that the maximum Q-factor (TM$_{010}$, 6.93 GHz) of the superconducting YBCO cavity was about 6 times higher than that of a copper cavity and showed no significant degradation up to 8 T at 4 K. This is the first indication of the possible applications of HTS technology to the research areas requiring low loss in a strong magnetic field at high radio frequencies.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2020

Revisiting the detection rate for axion haloscopes

The cavity haloscope has been employed to detect microwave photons resonantly converted from invisible cosmic axions under a strong magnetic field. In this scheme, the axion-photon conversion power has been formulated to be valid for certain conditions, either $Q_{cavity}\ll Q_{\rm axion}$ or $Q_{cavity} \gg Q_{axion}$. This remedy, however, fails when these two quantities are comparable to each other. Furthermore, the noise power flow has been treated independently of the impedance mismatch of the system, which could give rise to misleading estimates of the experimental sensitivity. We revisit the analytical approaches to derive a general description of the signal and noise power. We also optimize the coupling strength of a receiver to yield the maximal sensitivity for axion search experiments.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2020

Reduction of coherent betatron oscillations in a muon g-2 storage ring experiment using RF fields

This work demonstrates that two systematic errors, coherent betatron oscillations (CBO) and muon losses can be reduced through application of radio frequency (RF) electric fields, which ultimately increases the sensitivity of the muon $g-2$ experiments. As the ensemble of polarized muons goes around a weak focusing storage ring, their spin precesses, and when they decay through the weak interaction, $μ^+ \rightarrow e^+ ν_e \bar{ν_μ}$, the decay positrons are detected by electromagnetic calorimeters. In addition to the expected exponential decay in the positron time spectrum, the weak decay asymmetry causes a modulation in the number of positrons in a selected energy range at the difference frequency between the spin and cyclotron frequencies, $ω_\text{a}$. This frequency is directly proportional to the magnetic anomaly $a_μ=(g-2)/2$, where $g$ is the g-factor of the muon, which is slightly greater than 2. The detector acceptance depends on the radial position of the muon decay, so the CBO of the muon bunch following injection into the storage ring modulate the measured muon signal with the frequency $ω_\text{CBO}$. In addition, the muon populations at the edge of the beam hit the walls of the vacuum chamber before decaying, which also affects the signal. Thus, reduction of CBO and unwanted muon loss increases the $a_μ$ measurement sensitivity. Numerical and experimental studies with RF electric fields yield more than a magnitude reduction of the CBO, with muon losses comparable to the conventional method.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2019

Analysis method for detecting topological defect dark matter with a global magnetometer network

The Global Network of Optical Magnetometers for Exotic physics searches (GNOME) is a network of time-synchronized, geographically separated, optically pumped atomic magnetometers that is being used to search for correlated transient signals heralding exotic physics. GNOME is sensitive to exotic couplings of atomic spins to certain classes of dark matter candidates, such as axions. This work presents a data analysis procedure to search for axion dark matter in the form of topological defects: specifically, walls separating domains of discrete degenerate vacua in the axion field. An axion domain wall crossing the Earth creates a distinctive signal pattern in the network that can be distinguished from random noise. The reliability of the analysis procedure and the sensitivity of the GNOME to domain-wall crossings is studied using simulated data.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2019

Exploiting higher-order resonant modes for axion haloscopes

The haloscope is one of the most sensitive approaches to the QCD axion physics within the region where the axion is considered to be a dark matter candidate. Current experimental sensitivities, which rely on the lowest fundamental TM010 mode of a cylindrical cavity, are limited to relatively low mass regions. Exploiting higher-order resonant modes would be beneficial because it will enable us to extend the search range with no volume loss and higher quality factors. This approach has been discarded mainly because of the significant degradation of form factor, and difficulty with frequency tuning. Here we introduce a new tuning mechanism concept which both enhances the form factor and yields reasonable frequency tunability. A proof of concept demonstration verified that this design is feasible for high mass axion search experiments.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2019

Axion Dark Matter Research with IBS/CAPP

The axion, a consequence of the PQ mechanism, has been considered as the most elegant solution to the strong-CP problem and a compelling candidate for cold dark matter. The Center for Axion and Precision Physics Research (CAPP) of the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) was established on 16 October 2013 with a main objective to launch state of the art axion experiments in South Korea. Relying on the haloscope technique, our strategy is to run several experiments in parallel to explore a wide range of axion masses with sensitivities better than the QCD axion models. We utilize not only the advanced technologies, such as high-field large-volume superconducting (SC) magnets, ultra low temperature dilution refrigerators, and nearly quantum-limited noise amplifiers, but also some unique features solely developed at the Center, including high-quality SC resonant cavities surviving high magnetic fields and efficient cavity geometries to reach high-frequency regions. Our goal is to probe axion dark matter in the frequency range of 1-10 GHz in the first phase and then ultimately up to 25 GHz, even in a scenario where axions constitute only 10% of the local dark matter halo. In this report, the current status and future prospects of the experiments and R&D activities at IBS/CAPP are described.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2019

GPU Tracking in the COMET Phase-I Cylindrical Drift Chamber

The GPU-accelerated track finding method is investigated to track electrons from neutrinoless muon decay in the COMET Phase-I experiment. Inside the cylindrical drift chamber, one third of the signal electron trajectories are composed of multiple turns where the correct hit assignments to each turn partition are significant in the track finding. Scanning all possible track seeds of position and momentum can resolve the hit-to-turn assignment problem with a high robustness, but requires a huge computational cost: The initial track seeds $(θ,z,p_x,p_y,p_z)$ have broad uncertainties, so there exists many number of seeds that should be compared. In this article, this problem of massive computations are mitigated with 1) the parallel computing of Runge-Kutta-Nyström track propagation with the GPU, and 2) an initial guess on the seeds using the Hough transform and the detector geometry. The computation speed enhancement compared to the CPU is also presented.

physics.ins-det↗