Search for dark matter axions at 1-2 micro-eV with a RADES-DarkQuantum haloscope at CERN

Abstract

The QCD axion remains one of the most compelling candidates for the dark matter of the Universe, yet the mass range around $1$\text{--}\SI{2}{\micro\electronvolt} remains essentially unexplored. In this paper, we describe a proposal to employ CERN's M1 superconducting magnet to deploy a haloscope to perform a search for galactic axion and axion-like particle dark matter providing continuous coverage from approximately 1.2 to 1.8 \SI{}{\micro\electronvolt}. Under conservative assumptions, the experiment can reach the QCD axion band over a significant fraction of the scanned range, while optimistic detector performance would allow sensitivity to benchmark models such as KSVZ and DFSZ over a large part of the explored mass interval. With the current long shut-down of CERN's accelerators providing a unique and timely window, such an experiment will deliver high-impact results even in conservative scenarios and potentially delivering a definitive test of the axion dark matter paradigm in the unexplored $1$\text{--}\SI{2}{\micro\electronvolt} mass range.