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Axion Fraction Budget Mapper

A tool for scientists to decide which mass ranges to scan when searching for dark matter particles.

A tool that converts the latest CMB and BAO constraints on how much of dark matter can be axion-like into allowed-fraction maps and expected signal-power penalties, so axion-hunting experiments can prioritize which mass bands to scan.

Physics and AstronomyCosmology and Gravitation Theories
Cosmology and Gravitation TheoriesDark-matter detection instrumentation (axion haloscope experiments)

Concept

A software tool (library plus web UI) that ingests current combined CMB+BAO constraints on the axion-like fraction of dark matter and turns them into experiment-planning outputs. The user selects an axion mass range; the tool returns (a) the cosmologically allowed fraction of dark matter in axions over that range, (b) the resulting haloscope signal-power penalty relative to an all-axion universe (since expected signal power scales with the axion fraction), and (c) a ranked list of mass bands where the standard assumption that axions make up all of the dark matter still survives contact with the data. Updated with each major data release, it gives detector teams a defensible, citable basis for scan strategy and sensitivity targets.

Why now

ACT DR6 [0] shows dark matter is collisionless and that only a small fraction is allowed to be axion-like particles, using the new DR6 temperature and polarization spectra [1] (19,000 deg² of sky, arcminute angular resolution, polarization noise three times lower than Planck) combined with DESI Year-1 BAO [2]. Ultralight axions suppress small-scale structure, which is exactly what high-resolution CMB spectra constrain, so the bound is now sharp enough to matter for detector planning: a cosmological limit on the axion fraction directly rescales the expected signal-to-noise of a haloscope scan. Experiments today scan assuming axions are 100% of dark matter; this tool tells them where that assumption is still safe and where it is not.

Written by GLM · 9 Oct 2026

AI assessment

Backed by 3 papers83

A highly focused utility that translates cosmological constraints into actionable signal-power targets for axion haloscope experiments.

Evidence strength
4/5
The idea leverages high-resolution ACT DR6 and DESI BAO data which specifically constrain small-scale structure and dark matter composition, providing a strong empirical basis for calculating axion fractions.
Market pull
3/5
The user base is limited to a few high-budget physics collaborations, but the urgency is high as these experiments are extremely expensive to run and require precise scan strategies.
Novelty & moat
4/5
While similar to other forecasting tools, this specifically bridges the gap between CMB/BAO cosmological bounds and the local signal-power physics of haloscopes, filling a distinct niche.
Feasibility
5/5
The tool is essentially a calculator and visualization layer for existing public data and known scaling laws (signal power vs. fraction), making it very easy to build as an MVP.
Wedge clarity
5/5
The wedge is extremely sharp: providing a 'signal-power penalty' map to help experimentalists decide which mass bands to prioritize.
Simplicity / focus
5/5
The product is a single-purpose tool with a clear input (cosmological data) and a clear output (experimental priority maps).

Scored by Gemma 4 · 9 Oct 2026. Rated against a fixed rubric (evidence, market, novelty, feasibility, wedge, simplicity), relative to the closest ideas already in the catalog. A prior estimate to compare ideas before real-world signal arrives.

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Who benefits

  • ADMX (Axion Dark Matter eXperiment) collaborationorganization

    ADMX scans microwave cavities assuming axions constitute all of dark matter; the tool identifies which mass bands that assumption survives in and rescales expected signal power where only a fraction is allowed.

  • DMRadioorganization

    DMRadio's LC-circuit searches target low-mass axions; allowed-fraction maps show which parts of its planned band remain viable at full dark-matter density.

  • CAPP (Center for Axion and Precision Physics, KAIST)organization

    CAPP runs multiple haloscopes with limited scan time; a ranked list of cosmologically safe mass bands optimizes where to spend cavity time.

  • MADMAX collaborationorganization

    This dielectric-haloscope effort is still in its design phase, so cosmological fraction bounds feed directly into its sensitivity requirements and design choices.

Research it builds on

  1. DESI 2024 VI: cosmological constraints from the measurements of baryon acoustic oscillations
    A. G. Adame, José Edgar Madriz Aguilar, S. Ahlen et al. · 2025 · 1007 citations
    All ideas from this paper →
  2. The Atacama Cosmology Telescope: DR6 power spectra, likelihoods and ΛCDM parameters
    Thibaut Louis, Adrien La Posta, Zachary Atkins et al. · 2025 · 227 citations
    All ideas from this paper →
  3. The Atacama Cosmology Telescope: DR6 constraints on extended cosmological models
    Erminia Calabrese, J. Colin Hill, Hidde T. Jense et al. · 2025 · 180 citations
    All ideas from this paper →
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feasibility