Search

We report on the first results from a new microwave cavity search for dark matter axions with masses above 20 μeV. We exclude axion models with two-photon coupling g_{aγγ}≳2×10^{-14} GeV^{-1} over the range 23.55m_{a}24.0 μeV. These results represent two important achievements. First, we have reached cosmologically relevant sensitivity an order of magnitude higher in mass than any existing limits. Second, by incorporating a dilution refrigerator and Josephson parametric amplifier, we have demonstrated total noise approaching the standard quantum limit for the first time in an axion search.

Rotational levels of molecular free radicals can be tuned to degeneracy using laboratory-scale magnetic fields. Because of their intrinsically narrow width, these level crossings of opposite-parity states have been proposed for use in the study of parity-violating interactions and other applications. We experimentally study a typical manifestation of this system using $^{138}$BaF. Using a Stark-mixing method for detection, we demonstrate level-crossing signals with spectral width as small as 6 kHz. We use our data to verify the predicted lineshapes, transition dipole moments, and Stark shifts, and to precisely determine molecular magnetic g-factors. Our results constitute an initial proof-of-concept for use of this system to study nuclear spin-dependent parity violating effects., This version is updated in response to referee's comments, and includes a more substantive conclusion than the original version