Search for Dark Photon Dark Matter with a Mass around 36.1 μeV Using a Frequency-tunable Cavity Controlled through a Coupled Superconducting Qubit

Abstract

We report the results of a search for dark photon dark matter using a cavity that employs a transmon qubit as a frequency tuner. The tuning mechanism utilizes the energy level shift arising from the mode mixing between the qubit and the cavity mode. This method is advantageous as it avoids the frictional heating and electromagnetic leakage associated with mechanical tuning. We searched for a dark matter signal in the mass range $36.132-36.179$ $\mu$eV and found no significant evidence. As a result, we set the exclusion limit on the kinetic mixing parameter down to approximately $5\times 10^{-13}$, surpassing the existing limit set by cosmology.

8 pages, 5 figures; v3: Refined the data selection criteria, updated figures and made other minor corrections