Lancaster University is leading a £500,000 project to develop a new type of detector to search for dark matter.
Ph.D. student Saba Khan with the ultra-low temperature refrigerator used in the study. Image credit: Lancaster University
The project titled “ParaPara: Quantum parametric amplifiers using quantum electricity” was carried out by Edward Laird, Yuri Pashkin and Ian Bailey from Lancaster in collaboration with University College London.
Dr Laird said: “Dark matter is unexplored matter in galaxies, never detected directly but we know because we can see how it exerts gravity.
“A leading hypothesis is that dark matter consists of an unexplored particle called an axion. In this hypothesis, a huge number of axes were formed shortly after the big bang, collected in galaxies, and are now passing through our lab (and through us) at thousands of speeds. billion per second. “
As part of the National Quantum Technology Program, Lancaster has been part of the Quantum Sensing for Hidden Areas (QSHS) experiment being built to look for these axes – mass ‘hidden’ particles low, could help solve the mystery of dark matter.
The ParaPara team will develop new types of ultra-low-noise quantum electrons to underpin the search for these hitherto undetected particles.
By exploiting the ‘quantum electron effect’, the ParaPara team hopes to develop amplifiers that can operate in the high magnetic fields found in a wide range of applications.
As well as for searching for dark matter, these amplifiers could have applications in quantum computing and microscopy.
The Quantum Technologies for Basic Physics program is offered by the Science and Technology Foundations Council (STFC) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) as part of the Strategic Priority Fund. UKRI strategy.
The grants encourage high-risk exploration and aim to demonstrate how quantum technology can solve longstanding questions in fundamental physics.
Professor Grahame Blair, Executive Director of STFC, Program, said: “This new group of projects will contribute to our understanding of the universe by using advanced quantum technology such as quantum computing. electronics, imaging, sensing and simulation.
“The new grants continue to support the UK research community to explore the wide range of quantum technology applications for basic science – from studying neutrino masses to finding violations of quantum mechanics. fundamental dignity of nature.”
Source: Lancaster University
