Phase-matching of multiple-cavity detectors for dark matter axion search

Abstract

Conventional axion dark matter search experiments employ cylindrical microwave cavities immersed in a solenoidal magnetic field. Exploring higher frequency regions requires smaller size cavities as the TM010 resonant frequencies scale inversely with cavity radius. One intuitive way to make efficient use of a given magnet volume, and thereby to increase the experimental sensitivity, is to bundle multiple cavities together and combine their individual outputs, ensuring a phase-matching of the coherent axion signal. We perform an extensive study for realistic design of a phase-matching mechanism for multiple-cavity systems and demonstrate its experimental feasibility using a double-cavity system.