A Penning trap single-photon counter for axion detection
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Discovering the microscopic composition of dark matter is one of the most important open problems in physics today. Axions are a leading candidate to be dark matter; however, a search of the full range of all likely axion masses is hampered by the standard quantum noise limit. This makes
haloscope searches for axions with masses above ∼100 µeV unfeasible with current technologies. To overcome this limitation, we propose a new photon counting technique designed to operate at 30-60 GHz for detecting axions with masses between 124 µeV and 248 µeV, based on a single electron in a Penning trap. The electron cyclotron mode absorbs microwave photons, and, via the continuous Stern-Gerlach effect, this absorption imparts a measurable phase shift onto the axial motion. In this paper, we comprehensively analyze this photon detection method. We introduce a new type of fast, phase-sensitive axial detection technique, using axial-magnetron parametric amplification to overcome detector Johnson noise and cancel associated frequency shifts. This method may find other applications in precision Penning trap frequency measurements. We compare the efficiency of the electron single-photon counter with an ideal device, and find that our proposed photon counter has sufficient performance to search for high mass axions.
haloscope searches for axions with masses above ∼100 µeV unfeasible with current technologies. To overcome this limitation, we propose a new photon counting technique designed to operate at 30-60 GHz for detecting axions with masses between 124 µeV and 248 µeV, based on a single electron in a Penning trap. The electron cyclotron mode absorbs microwave photons, and, via the continuous Stern-Gerlach effect, this absorption imparts a measurable phase shift onto the axial motion. In this paper, we comprehensively analyze this photon detection method. We introduce a new type of fast, phase-sensitive axial detection technique, using axial-magnetron parametric amplification to overcome detector Johnson noise and cancel associated frequency shifts. This method may find other applications in precision Penning trap frequency measurements. We compare the efficiency of the electron single-photon counter with an ideal device, and find that our proposed photon counter has sufficient performance to search for high mass axions.
Date Acceptance
2026-06-03
Citation
Physical Review Research
ISSN
2643-1564
Publisher
American Physical Society
Journal / Book Title
Physical Review Research
Copyright Statement
Copyright This paper is embargoed until publication. Once published the Version of Record (VoR) will be available on immediate open access.
License URL
Publication Status
Accepted
Date Publish Online
2026-06-03