Measurement of high quality factor superconducting cavities in tesla-scale magnetic fields for dark matter searches

Abstract

In dark matter searches using axion haloscopes, the search sensitivity depends on the quality factors ($Q_0$) of radiofrequency cavities immersed in multi-tesla magnetic fields. Increasing $Q_0$ would increase the scan rate through the parameter space of interest. Researchers developing superconducting radiofrequency cavities for particle accelerators have developed methods for obtaining extremely high $Q_0\sim10^{11}$ in $\mu$T-scale magnetic fields. In this paper, we describe efforts to develop high Q cavities made from Nb$_3$Sn films using a technique developed for particle accelerator cavities. Geometry optimization for this application is explored, and two cavities are tested: an existing particle accelerator-style cavity and a geometry developed and fabricated for use in high fields. A quality factor of ($5.3\pm0.3$)$\times 10^5$ is obtained at 3.9~GHz and 6~T at 4.2~K.