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1. An optical atomic clock using $4D_J$ states of rubidium

   https://doi.org/10.1088/2058-9565/ad77ef  

   Duspayev, A.; Owens, C.; Dash, B.; Raithel, G. (September 2024, Quantum Science and Technology)

   Abstract We analyze an optical atomic clock using two-photon $5S_{1/2}\to 4D_J$transitions in rubidium. Four one- and two-color excitation schemes to probe the $4D_{3/2}$and $4D_{5/2}$fine-structure states are considered in detail. We compare key characteristics of Rb $4D_J$and $5D_{5/2}$two-photon clocks. The $4D_J$clock features a high signal-to-noise ratio due to two-photon decay at favorable wavelengths, low dc electric and magnetic susceptibilities, and minimal black-body shifts. Ac Stark shifts from the clock interrogation lasers are compensated by two-color Rabi-frequency matching. We identify a ‘magic’ wavelength near 1060 nm, which allows for in-trap, Doppler-free clock-transition interrogation with lattice-trapped cold atoms. From our analysis of clock statistics and systematics, we project a quantum-noise-limited relative clock stability at the ${10}^{-13}/\sqrt{\tau \left(s\right)}$-level, with integration timeτin seconds, and a relative accuracy of $\sim {10}^{-13}$. We describe a potential architecture for implementing the proposed clock using a single telecom clock laser at 1550 nm, which is conducive to optical communication and long-distance clock comparisons. Our work could be of interest in efforts to realize small and portable Rb clocks and in high-precision measurements of atomic properties of Rb $4D_J$-states. 

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2. Shot noise and universal Fano factor as a characterization of strongly correlated metals

   https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.6.L042045  

   Wang, Yiming; Setty, Chandan; Sur, Shouvik; Chen, Liyang; Paschen, Silke; Natelson, Douglas; Si, Qimiao (November 2024, Physical Review Research)

   Shot noise measures out-of-equilibrium current fluctuations and is a powerful tool to probe the nature of current-carrying excitations in quantum systems. Recent shot-noise measurements in the heavy-fermion strange metal ${\mathrm{YbRh}}_2{\mathrm{Si}}_2$exhibit a strong suppression of the Fano factor ( $F$)—the ratio of the current noise to the average current in the dc limit. This system is representative of metals in which electron correlations are extremely strong. Here we carry out the first theoretical study on the shot noise of diffusive metals in the regime of strong correlations. A Boltzmann-Langevin equation formulation is constructed in a quasiparticle description in the presence of strong correlations. We find that $F=\sqrt{3}/4$in such a correlation regime. Thus, we establish the aforementioned Fano factor as universal to Fermi liquids, and we show that the Fano factor suppression observed in experiments on ${\mathrm{YbRh}}_2{\mathrm{Si}}_2$necessitates a loss of the quasiparticles. Our work opens the door to systematic theoretical studies of shot noise as a means of characterizing strongly correlated metallic phases and materials. Published by the American Physical Society2024 

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3. Dark Matter Axion Search with HAYSTAC Phase II

   https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.151006  

   Bai, Xiran; Jewell, M J; Echevers, J; van_Bibber, K; Droster, A; Esmat, Maryam H; Ghosh, Sumita; Graham, Eleanor; Jackson, H; Laffan, Claire; et al (April 2025, Physical Review Letters)

   This Letter reports new results from the HAYSTAC experiment’s search for dark matter axions in our galactic halo. It represents the widest search to date that utilizes squeezing to realize subquantum limited noise. The new results cover $1.71\mathrm{\mu }\mathrm{eV}$of newly scanned parameter space in the mass ranges $17.28–18.44\mathrm{\mu }\mathrm{eV}$and $18.71–19.46\mathrm{\mu }\mathrm{eV}$. No statistically significant evidence of an axion signal was observed, excluding couplings $\left|g_{\gamma }\right|\ge 2.75\times \left|g_{\gamma }^{\mathrm{KSVZ}}\right|$and $\left|g_{\gamma }\right|\ge 2.96\times \left|g_{\gamma }^{\mathrm{KSVZ}}\right|$at the 90% confidence level over the respective region. By combining this data with previously published results using HAYSTAC’s squeezed state receiver, a total of $2.27\mathrm{\mu }\mathrm{eV}$of parameter space has now been scanned between $16.96–19.46\mathrm{\mu }\mathrm{eV}$ $\mu \mathrm{eV}$, excluding $\left|g_{\gamma }\right|\ge 2.86\times \left|g_{\gamma }^{\mathrm{KSVZ}}\right|$at the 90% confidence level. These results demonstrate the squeezed state receiver’s ability to probe axion models over a significant mass range while achieving a scan rate enhancement relative to a quantum-limited experiment. Published by the American Physical Society2025 

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4. Highly excited electron cyclotron for QCD axion and dark-photon detection

   https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.111.075022  

   Fan, Xing; Gabrielse, Gerald; Graham, Peter W; Ramani, Harikrishnan; Wong, Samuel_S Y; Xiao, Yawen (April 2025, Physical Review D)

   We propose using highly excited cyclotron states of a trapped electron to detect meV axion and dark-photon dark matter, marking a significant improvement over our previous proposal and demonstration [One-electron quantum cyclotron as a milli-ev dark-photon detector, .]. When the axion mass matches the cyclotron frequency ${\omega }_c$, the cyclotron state is resonantly excited, with a transition probability proportional to its initial quantum number, $n_c$. The sensitivity is enhanced by taking $n_c\sim {10}^6{\left(\frac{0.1\mathrm{meV}}{{\omega }_c}\right)}^2$. By optimizing key experimental parameters, we minimize the required averaging time for cyclotron detection to $t_{\mathrm{ave}}\sim {10}^{-6}$s, permitting detection of such a highly excited state before its decay. An open–end-cap trap design enables the external photon signal to be directed into the trap, rendering our background-free detector compatible with large focusing cavities, such as the BREAD proposal, while capitalizing on their strong magnetic fields. Furthermore, the axion conversion rate can be coherently enhanced by incorporating layers of dielectrics with alternating refractive indices within the cavity. Collectively, these optimizations enable us to probe the QCD axion parameter space from 0.1 to 2.3 meV (25–560 GHz), covering a substantial portion of the predicted postinflationary QCD axion mass range. This sensitivity corresponds to probing the kinetic mixing parameter of the dark photon down to $\epsilon \approx 2\times {10}^{-16}$. Published by the American Physical Society2025 

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5. Electromagnetic modeling and science reach of $\text{DMRadio-}{\mathrm{m}}^3$

   https://doi.org/10.1103/bwgd-kxsb  

   AlShirawi, A; Ankel, V; Bartram, C; Begin, J; Bell, C; Benabou, J N; Brouwer, L; Chaudhuri, S; Cho, H-M; Corbin, J; et al (September 2025, Physical review D)

   $\text{DMRadio-}{\mathrm{m}}^3$is an experimental search for dark matter axions. It uses a solenoidal dc magnetic field to convert an axion dark-matter signal to an ac electromagnetic response in a coaxial copper pickup. The current induced by this axion signal is measured by dc SQUIDs. $\text{DMRadio-}{\mathrm{m}}^3$is designed to be sensitive to Kim-Shifman-Vainshtein-Zakharov (KSVZ) and Dine-Fischler-Srednicki-Zhitnisky (DFSZ) QCD axion models in the 10–200 MHz ( $41\mathrm{neV}/c^2–0.83\mathrm{\mu }\mathrm{eV}/c^2$) range, and to axions with $g_{a\gamma \gamma }=g_{a\gamma \gamma ,\mathrm{DFSZ}}\left(30\mathrm{MHz}\right)=1.87\times {10}^{-17}{\mathrm{GeV}}^{-1}$over 5–30 MHz as an extended goal. In this work, we present the electromagnetic modeling of the response of the experiment to an axion signal over the full frequency range of $\text{DMRadio-}{\mathrm{m}}^3$, which extends from the low-frequency, lumped-element limit to a regime where the axion Compton wavelength is only a factor of 2 larger than the detector size. With these results, we determine the live time and sensitivity of the experiment. The primary science goal of sensitivity to DFSZ axions across 30–200 MHz can be achieved with a $3\sigma$live scan time of 2.9 years. 

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