Axion Dark Matter Search with Near-KSVZ Sensitivity Using the TM$_{020}$ Mode

Abstract

Dark matter remains one of the most profound mysteries in modern physics, with axions, a hypothetical particle proposed to resolve the strong CP problem, standing as a compelling candidate. Among various experimental strategies, cavity haloscopes currently offer the most sensitive method to detect axions, though their searches have largely been confined to axion masses below 10 $\mu$eV. However, recent theoretical developments suggest that the axion mass lies beyond this range. Higher-order cavity modes have been explored as a methodological approach to expand the search range, albeit with limited success in achieving both high sensitivity and broad tunability. In this work, we present a sensitive search for axions with masses around 21 $\mu$eV, utilizing the TM$_{020}$ mode of a cylindrical cavity, which incorporated an innovative tuning mechanism. Our results reached 1.7 times the KSVZ sensitivity over 100 MHz, representing a significant improvement in this mass range and contributing to the experimental search for axion dark matter at higher masses.