How the RFSoC can Improve Data Aquisition in Axion Searches

The Radio Frequency System on Chip (RFSoC) is a device that could streamline the data acquisition process for axion searches. Our goal is to develop firmware that allows for the integration of various instruments such as spectrum analyzers, vector network analyzers and signal generators onto a single board. The RFSoC can also perform fast fourier transforms (FFTs) directly on the board, speeding up the data analysis while reducing the power consumption. Axion searches that generate large amounts of time-series data can benefit from the on-board processing. The RFSoC also enables for direct analog signal processing up to a low GHz regime, bypassing the need for heterodyning. Furthermore, it is reprogrammable, leading to flexibility in its usage across a wide range of frequencies. For example, the central frequency, bandwidth and frequency resolution of power spectra can be optimized in real-time during data acquisition. We explain how these tools can be implemented in existing axion searches, such as ADMX.