# Axion Group ## Experiments The axion is a compelling dark matter candidate, also explaining why the neutron electric dipole moment is vanishingly small. Despite this attractive solution, the axion is still widely unconstrained, depending on different cosmological scenarios slightly favoring ∼µeV - meV masses. Its discovery would have far-reaching consequences for particle physics and astronomy. Our group builds novel experiments to directly detect axion dark matter in this mass range. Axions can convert to photons under a strong magnetic field. We use this property to build electromagnetic resonators in strong magnets where axions can convert to photons. We combine these setups with the most sensitive photon detection schemes in existence. Our group contributes to the following experimental collaborations. Broadband Reflector Experiment for Axion Detection ### BREAD BREAD is a concept to search for axions without resonant enhancement, but instead over a broad mass range instantaneously. This is particularly interesting for higher axion masses around the meV range (THz frequencies). BREAD uses a novel reflector geometry, shown on the left. This makes the non-resonant conversion concept (also called "dish antenna") compatible with readily available high-field solenoid magnets. BREAD has recently demonstrated a [pilot experiment in the 12GHz regime (~50µeV)](https://arxiv.org/abs/2310.13891), called GigaBREAD, and a demonstrator in the infrared regime, InfraBREAD, is underway. Our group will combine the BREAD concept with novel signal enhancement techniques and quantum sensors to achieve sensitivity in the GHz-THz regimes. We will perform these axion searches on the Harvard campus in a dedicated cryogenic high-field magnet. ![Recent BREAD reflector delivered to Harvard.](/sites/g/files/omnuum1766/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/2025-05/1000038398_0.jpg?h=0bc875c7&itok=NZfTV2_4) Axion Dark Matter eXperiment ### ADMX ADMX searches for the resonant conversion of µeV axions to GHz (radio frequency) photons using m-scale resonant cavities with quality factors above 104. Assuming axions make up all dark matter, ADMX has excluded the largest range of masses using this technique for the QCD axion at the DFSZ benchmark sensitivity, and is the world-leading experiment in the field. Our group will work on the design and testing of cavities for future higher-frequency runs of ADMX. Learn more about this experiment on the [ADMX collaboration webpage](). ![AMDX cavity array](/sites/g/files/omnuum1766/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/2024-11/IMG_20211217_191132183.jpg?h=f05490bf&itok=lz_ZsmOe) Magnetized Disk and Mirror Axion eXperiment ### MADMAX MADMAX searches for the conversion of axions to photons in the regime around 100µeV (10-30GHz) using an array of multiple dielectric disks, called a "dielectric haloscope". MADMAX has many synergies with ADMX and BREAD and is a promising technology to probe the mass range between them. Learn more about this experiment on the [MADMAX collaboration website](https://madmax.mpp.mpg.de/). ## Group Members The axion group is just starting up! 🚀 For Harvard students: Contact if you are interested in joining! We have several possibilities for undergraduate and graduate research projects. Not yet a Harvard student? Apply for [Harvard College](https://college.harvard.edu/admissions) or the [Harvard's physics graduate program](https://www.physics.harvard.edu/grad/admissions). [### Maja Benning ](/people/maja-benning)Student Intern Maja Benning is a second-year master’s student focusing on experimental techniques in the search for axion dark matter. ![Photo of Maja Benning](/sites/g/files/omnuum1766/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-10/Benning-Maja_web.jpg?itok=QCOfe4Xo) [### Alex Buzzi ](/people/alex-buzzi)Graduate Student Alex Buzzi is a first-year Physics PhD student with research interests in experimental particle physics and atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) physics. ![Photo of Alex Buzzi](/sites/g/files/omnuum1766/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-07/Alex%20Buzzi%20Picture.jpeg?itok=WAEI1kbJ) [### I-see Jaidee ](/people/i-see-jaidee)Graduate Student I-see is from Thailand and received a B.A. in Astrophysics from Wellesley College in 2025. She is currently a first-year physics PhD student working on designing and testing a dielectric haloscope for enhanced axion detection in SlicedBREAD. Aside from... ![Photo of I-see Jaidee](/sites/g/files/omnuum1766/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2026-04/pic.jpg?itok=rryZ4lua) [### Stefan Knirck ](/people/stefan-knirck) Assistant Professor of Physics Knirck searches for axion dark matter using novel detectors. Axion dark matter searches are at the intersection between fundamental particle physics, astrophysics, photonics, and quantum sensing. ![Stefan Knirck in the electronics lab](/sites/g/files/omnuum1766/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2024-10/stefan_lab_2893_crop.jpg?itok=jB_sPsAq) [### Ethan Lee ](/people/ethan-lee)Undergraduate Student Ethan Lee is an undergraduate student studying physics and engineering sciences, with an interest in experimental physics. ![Ethan_Lee_Photograph](/sites/g/files/omnuum1766/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2026-04/photograph.png?itok=QYDWgsV6) [### Estiven Lezama ](/people/estiven-lezama)Undergraduate Student person [### Morgan Lynn ](/people/morgan-lynn)Postdoctoral Fellow [Starting October 2025] Morgan is a postdoctoral fellow interested in novel ways to combine quantum technologies to aid our search for axion dark matter. His background is in microwave cavities for axion haloscope searches utilizing superconducting qubits. ![Photo of Morgan Lynn](/sites/g/files/omnuum1766/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-07/MLynn%20Headshot.jpg?itok=sUC1P_bf) [### Juan Maldonado ](/people/juan-maldonado)Student Intern J uan is a Colombian physicist and PhD researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Physics, with a background shaped by international research experiences spanning the National University of Colombia, Purdue University, the University of Bonn, and research... ![Picture of Juan Maldonado](/sites/g/files/omnuum1766/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2026-01/Juan%20Maldonado.jpeg?itok=KSvb66Fp) [### Grant McIntyre ](/people/grant-mcintyre)Graduate Student Grant is a first-year physics PhD student working on BREAD. Specifically, his research project centers on designing and testing a dielectric haloscope for the W band (~100 GHz). ![Grant_McIntyre_Photo](/sites/g/files/omnuum1766/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2026-03/85B4A8E3-7CDC-457A-B5EA-970E20A3F004_1_105_c.jpeg?itok=a909-7gN) [### Johnny Miri ](/people/johnny-miri)Undergraduate Student Johnny Miri is a senior at Harvard studying Physics. ![Photo of Johnny Miri](/sites/g/files/omnuum1766/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-10/IMG_3886_Original%20%281%29.jpg?itok=hyLFZvj_) [### Jasmine Palma ](/people/jasmine-palma)Undergraduate Student Jasmine Palma is a third-year physics and astronomy undergraduate at Harvard interested in axion and scalar field dark matter phenomenology. ![Jasmine Palma](/sites/g/files/omnuum1766/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-04/be89cfef-9953-41b5-ba55-efc841fef62c.jpg?itok=l0SzJrG1) [### Larom Segev ](/people/larom-segev)Undergraduate Student Larom Segev is an astro and applied physics student at Harvard interested in data acquisition systems where cosmology meets experimental setups. ![Segev](/sites/g/files/omnuum1766/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-06/BREAD%20LPPC%20Photo_0.png?itok=SK3amfW-)