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RADES detector in the BabyIAXO experiment: detection of cosmic axions

The nature of dark matter is one of the most pressing questions in modern particle physics. The axion particle is an excellent candidate for dark matter. So far, however, axions exist only "on paper," predicted only in theoretical models.

What is particularly attractive about this novel type of particle is the fact that they could be used to kill two birds with one stone. In addition to the dark matter problem, physicists are trying to clarify a completely unrelated issue: Why no CP (charge/parity) violation occurs in the strong interaction. This force behaves with it differently than the weak interaction, with which this phenomenon occurs.

The RADES detector searches for cosmic axions originating from the dark matter halo that surrounds our galaxy like a sphere. Therefore, it is also called a haloscope. The principle: In a strong magnetic field, axions take on the properties of light particles (photons), which can manifest themselves as microwaves in a special experimental setup. However, this signal would be very weak. The RADES haloscope consists of a composite of small resonators that can be used to amplify the microwaves. This could be used to prove the existence of axions.

A scientist checks the RADES detectors in the former CAST experiment at CERN (Photo: Maximilien Brice/CERN)
A scientist checks the RADES detectors in the former CAST experiment at CERN (Photo: Maximilien Brice/CERN)

So far, RADES has been a detector in the CAST experiment at CERN, whose successor IAXO is currently being planned. CAST and IAXO specialize in detecting axions that originate from the Sun. However, these are not necessarily dark matter. With the RADES component, the discovery of cosmic axions is additionally possible. This is also a chance to solve the dark matter puzzle.

Currently, a prototype of IAXO is being planned at DESY in Hamburg, where the magnet and all components are being prepared and tested on a small scale - the project has accordingly been christened BabyIAXO. BabyIAXO consists of a 10-meter-long, ring-shaped magnet with a field strength of 2 Tesla, through which two tubes, each 60-centimeters in diameter, pass. The RADES haloscope will be installed in the cavity of the magnet.

The task of our group in the coming years is to tailor and test the setup of RADES for BabyIAXO. Specifically, we are working on describing possible observations and developing analysis methods, as well as designing and testing the Axion haloscope for BabyIAXO.

RADES consists of 20 researchers at eight institutions, and the babyIAXO experiment consists of 120 researchers at over 100 different institutions.

RADES/BabyIaxo at the MPP

Dr. Babette Döbrich (Photo: private)

Dr. Babette Döbrich (Photo: private)

Search for Dark Matter: Babette Döbrich leads new research team at MPP

The Max Planck Institute for Physics (MPP) welcomes Babette Döbrich, who has begun research at the institute on November 1. She prevailed in the challenging application process of the Lise-Meitner Excellence Program and will immediately head an experimental research group at MPP that focuses on the search for light dark matter candidates. The scientist is involved in the NA62 research project (CERN) and in the planning of a new axion experiment at DESY.

What is dark matter made of? This mystery has not yet been solved, although numerous experiments are searching for dark matter particles. Babette Döbrich is working on ultralight candidates for this invisible form of matter, which are postulated in various theoretical models.

In focus: the axion

With her research group at MPP, the scientist is working on the setup of a new experiment currently being established at DESY. BabyIAXO is specifically looking for axions, which are created in the sun and should be permanently raining down on us. The project is also a precursor and test for an even larger axion experiment called IAXO. The project forms an interesting complement to MADMAX, an MPP-initiated axion experiment that is also coming to DESY.

In addition, Babette Döbrich is researching very rare decays of K mesons - pairs of a quark and an antiquark. This could produce axion-like particles and dark photons (light particles) that also qualify as dark matter candidates. For this purpose, the NA62 experiment also analyzes data from the so-called beam-dumps of the SPS accelerator ring at CERN.

The Lise-Meitner program: scientific development, professional security

Babette Döbrich studied physics in Heidelberg. For her doctorate, the researcher moved to the Institute for Theoretical Physics in Jena. She then spent several years as a researcher at the NA 62 experiment at CERN and at the ALPS II experiment at DESY.

Babette Döbrich obtained her position as group leader at the MPP through the Max Planck Society's Lise Meitner Excellence Program, which offers young female scientists long-term career prospects. It is named after the congenial research partner of chemist Otto Hahn. Since the start of this measure in 2018, 700 female scientists have applied. Babette Döbrich is one of 30 candidates who received a call to a Max Planck Institute.

"I am very excited to further develop my projects in a new environment," says Babette Döbrich. "With its move to the Garching campus in 2023, the MPP is settling in a hot-spot of modern physics with tremendous diversity and breadth - an extremely vibrant and inspiring research environment.

E-mail address: e-mail@mpp.mpg.de
Phone number: +49 89 32354-extension
name function e-mail extension office
Cogollos, Cristian Postdoc cogollos 583 A.3.70
Dev Singh, Samridh Student devsingh 583 A.3.70
Döbrich, Babette, Dr. Senior Scientist dobrich 205 A.3.95
García Barceló, José María, Dr. Postdoc jmgarcia 583 A.3.70
Herwig, Louis Student herwig 546 A.3.70
Kittlinger, David Engineering kittling 345 B.2.FL2

Axion Searches with Microwave Filters: the RADES project
Alejandro Álvarez Melcón, Sergio Arguedas Cuendis, Cristian Cogollos, Alejandro Díaz-Morcillo, Babette Döbrich
JCAP 05 (2018) 040
DOI: 10.1088/1475-7516/2018/05/040

First results of the CAST-RADES haloscope search for axions at 34.67 μμeV
CAST Collaboration (A. Álvarez Melcón)
JHEP 21 (2020) 075
DOI: 10.1007/JHEP10(2021)075

Thin Film (High Temperature) Superconducting Radiofrequency Cavities for the Search of Axion Dark Matter
J. Golm, S. Arguedas Cuendis, S. Calatroni, C. Cogollos, B. Döbrich
IEEE Trans.Appl.Supercond. 32 (2022) 4, 1500605
DOI: 10.1109/TASC.2022.3147741

Scalable haloscopes for axion dark matter detection in the 30μμeV range with RADES
A. Álvarez Melcón, S. Arguedas Cuendis, C. Cogollos, A. Díaz-Morcillo, B. Döbrich(
JHEP 07 (2020) 084
DOI: 10.1007/JHEP07(2020)084

 

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