| Jul 18, 2024 |
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(Nanowerk Information) A brand new type of detector for darkish matter has the potential to make a direct detection of the enigmatic materials, based on an evaluation by RIKEN physicists.
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Objects that astronomers can detect are thought to make up solely about 15% of the mass of the Universe; the opposite 85% is made up of darkish matter. The character of darkish matter is likely one of the nice mysteries in trendy physics.
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“Dark matter is very elusive,” says Javier De Miguel of the RIKEN Middle for Superior Photonics (RAP). “We’re most likely being bombarded by dark-matter particles every second without noticing it.”
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A worldwide search is underway to attempt to straight detect darkish matter. “Several candidates for dark matter are being explored in parallel in an enormous joint effort by the scientific community,” says De Miguel. “I’m optimistic that the detection of dark matter could be one of the landmark events of this century.”
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In 2021, De Miguel reported on a brand new type of dark-matter detector, which he referred to as the Darkish photons & Axion-Like particles Interferometer (DALI), for detecting dark-matter candidates generally known as axions.
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The DALI is now within the design and prototyping part, and it’s anticipated to be put in at Teide Observatory at Tenerife, with a goal commissioning time of about 5 years.
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| Teide Observatory, Tenerife, at nightfall. A brand new detector to be put in at this location could enable physicists to detect darkish matter, which is unattainable to detect utilizing standard astronomical devices. (Picture: Westend61 / Getty)
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To guage the prospects of DALI detecting axions and different dark-matter candidates, De Miguel and Chiko Otani, additionally of RAP, and their co-workers have performed an evaluation of the detector.
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Their forecast predicts that over about 15 years of operation DALI will be capable to cowl a good portion of the parameter area the place the axion (if it exists) may be hiding. The evaluation additionally signifies that DALI may be capable to detect one other doable candidate for darkish matter generally known as the darkish photon.
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DALI will be capable to cowl uncharted territory. “Previous experiments had limitations when it came to searching for dark matter at high frequencies. DALI solves this problem by adopting a new strategy,” says De Miguel. “If the axion or dark photon exist in this territory, we may pioneer a direct detection.”
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The evaluation additionally revealed methods that may very well be used to reinforce the effectiveness of DALI, together with putting in it on a steerable mount and creating an array of small DALI detectors.
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Based mostly on the evaluation, De Miguel is satisfied that DALI has the potential to make an important contribution to the worldwide seek for darkish matter. “I believe that the DALI experiment can play a key role in the search and detection of dark matter,” says De Miguel. “Especially since it is reasonably low cost and feasible to implement.”
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Reference
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De Miguel, J., Hernández-Cabrera, J. F., Hernández-Suárez, E., Joven-Álvarez, E., Otani, C. & Rubiño-Martín, J. A. Discovery prospects with the Darkish-photons & Axion-Like particles Interferometer. Bodily Evaluate D 109, 062002 (2024). doi: 10.1103/PhysRevD.109.062002
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De Miguel, J. A darkish matter telescope probing the 6 to 60 GHz band. Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics 4, 75 (2021). doi: 10.1088/1475-7516/2021/04/075
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