Analytical considerations for optimal axion haloscope design

Abstract

The cavity haloscope provides a highly sensitive method to search for dark matter axions in the microwave regime. Experimental attempts to enhance the sensitivity have focused on improving major aspects, such as producing strong magnetic fields, increasing cavity quality factors, and achieving lowest possible noise temperatures. Minor details, however, also need to be carefully considered in realistic experimental designs. They are associated with non-uniform magnetic fields over the detection volume, noise propagation under attenuation and temperature gradients, and thermal disequilibrium in the cavity system. We take analytical approaches to these topics and offer optimal treatments for improved performance.