Design and Operational Experience of a Microwave Cavity Axion Detector for the 20-100 micro-eV Range
arXiv:1611.07123 · doi:10.1016/j.nima.2017.02.012
Abstract
We describe a dark matter axion detector designed, constructed, and operated both as an innovation platform for new cavity and amplifier technologies and as a data pathfinder in the $5 - 25$ GHz range ($\sim20-100\: μ$eV). The platform is small but flexible to facilitate the development of new microwave cavity and amplifier concepts in an operational environment. The experiment has recently completed its first data production; it is the first microwave cavity axion search to deploy a Josephson parametric amplifier and a dilution refrigerator to achieve near-quantum limited performance.
17 pages, published in NIM A. v2: added changes made during the review process