Succeeded in developing the latest equipment to detect mysterious particles "Axion" which might be the identity of dark matter

byNASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Dark matterIs a hypothetical substance that accounts for about 25% of outer space, and observation results indicating indirect existence are obtained, but it is unknown what is actually dark matter. Neutrinos are considered as the identity of dark matter, but "Axion"Hypothetical elementary particles that are also listed as one of the candidates. A report that researchers succeeded in developing the latest equipment to detect such Axion,Physical Review LettersIt was announced in the physical special issue magazine.

After 30 years of R & amp; D, breakthrough announced in dark matter detection technology, definitive search to begin for axion particles | UW News
http://www.washington.edu/news/2018/04/09/admx-detection-technology/

Originally, Axion is an unsolved problem in elementary particle physics "Strong CP problemIt was an undiscovered elementary particle that was expected as a solution to solve the problem, but as studies progressed, it became attracting attention as a candidate for dark matter. We aimed to detect such AxionThe Axion Dark Matter eXperiment (ADMX)Research and development has been conducted for more than 30 years.

ADMX is based in Washington UniversityFermi National Accelerator Research InstituteIs an Axion detector under development and is installed in the basement covered with a superconducting magnet. Although it is believed that Axion hardly interferes with matter, ADMX can detect the frequency of the photon emitted at that time by converting the Axion into an electromagnetic wave in ADMX adjusted to strong magnetic field and low temperature .

"I do not mind having it thought that it is like an AM radio," said Washington UniversityGray · ribkaAssociate Professor explained and explained the characteristics of ADMX to search for a certain frequency. According to Associate Professor Ribca, although ADMX can detect the Axion to catch the frequency emitted from the radio station, it really is whether the radio station is emitting frequencies, ie whether the Axion is present or not at the present time I do not know.


To detect the Axion which can not be observed with the eyes, in 1983 the University of FloridaPierre SikivyADMX's research and development has been ongoing for more than 30 years since the professor has proposed a method of detecting an axial by a magnetic field. However, because ADMX is a very delicate device, operation has not been successful for a long time due to the heat radiation from the surroundings and the background noise generated by the electronic mechanism of ADMX itself.

With regard to thermal radiation, it was avoidable by cooling ADMX to near absolute zero, but it was very difficult to avoid noise from the electronic mechanism. This time, the research team developed a method to detect the frequency using a superconducting quantum amplifier instead of a conventional transistor amplifier, and it seems that it was possible to reduce noise generated from ADMX itself.

Physicist of ADMX co-sponsor Lawrence Livermore National LaboratoryJean Paolo · KarosiAbout the improvement of ADMX which was announced this time, "Although it used hundreds of years to scan the range where it seems that Axion would exist because it was using a transistor amplifier in the initial ADMX, use a new amplifier By doing so we can scan in the same range in just a few years, "says the speed of elucidating the mystery of the universe has improved greatly.

byGiuseppe Donatiello

It is the chief of the ADMX development teamLeslie RosenbergProfessor said, "We do not need new technology anymore, and we can explore the Axion if we have time."