ARIADNE: a laboratory search for the QCD axion with hyperpolarized helium-3 spins

The Axion Resonant InterAction DetectioN Experiment (ARIADNE) will search for spin-dependent forces mediated by the QCD axion between an unpolarized Tungsten source mass and a sample of polarized helium-3 as the sensor by using a nuclear magnetic resonance based technique. The experiment relies on low magnetic gradients for the helium to remain polarized during transport to the sample cell, limiting ordinary magnetic noise with superconducting magnetic shielding as well as a stable rotary system to modulate the axion-signal from the source mass. Background and current progress on the experiment will be discussed.