We report an extended search for the axion dark matter using the CAPP18T haloscope. The CAPP18T experiment adopts innovative technologies of a high-temperature superconducting magnet and a Josephson parametric converter. The CAPP18T detector was reconstructed after an unexpected incident of the high-temperature superconducting magnet quenching. The system reconstruction includes rebuilding the magnet, improving the impedance matching in the microwave chain, and mechanically readjusting the tuning rod to the cavity for improved thermal contact. The total system noise temperature is $\sim 0.6\mathrm{K}$. The coupling between the cavity and the strong antenna is maintained at $\beta \simeq 2$ to enhance the axion search scanning speed. The scan frequency range is from 4.8077 to 4.8181 GHz. No significant indication of the axion dark matter signature is observed. The results set the best upper bound of the axion-photon-photon coupling ($g_{a\gamma \gamma }$) in the mass ranges of 19.883 to $19.926\mathrm{\mu }\mathrm{eV}$ at $\sim 0.7\times |g_{a\gamma \gamma }^{\mathrm{KSVZ}}|$ or $\sim 1.9\times |g_{a\gamma \gamma }^{\mathrm{DFSZ}}|$ with 90% confidence level. The results demonstrate that a reliable search of the high-mass dark matter axions can be achieved beyond the benchmark models using the technology adopted in CAPP18T.

• Received 17 November 2022
• Accepted 12 April 2023

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.131.081801

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Published by the American Physical Society