Scientists from Hebrew University of Jerusalem, University of Zurich and MIT just pulled off a frosty experiment that could change the dark matter game. Meet QROCODILE: a Quantum Resolution-Optimized Cryogenic Observatory for Dark matter Incident at Low Energy 🐊🔬.
Dark matter is that invisible stuff that doesn't emit, absorb, or reflect light, but makes up most of our universe. Think of it like your Wi-Fi signal – if you could see it, you'd notice it's all around you, affecting everything without showing itself.
In QROCODILE, researchers used superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors cooled to just 0.1°C above absolute zero. That's nearly -273.15°C, where atoms barely jiggle. At this ultra-cold temp, electrons team up into Cooper pairs, gliding with zero resistance.
If a low-mass dark matter particle crashes into the nanowire, it can break a Cooper pair, creating a tiny disturbance that sparks a measurable electrical blip. Because breaking a pair needs barely any energy, these detectors can hunt for really light dark matter candidates 🌌.
During a 400-hour test run, QROCODILE achieved one of the lowest energy thresholds ever recorded and set new limits on how light dark matter particles might be. It hasn't gone underground yet, but that's next – dropping the setup in a subterranean lab to block out background noise, just like muting notifications on your phone for peak focus.
Looking ahead, the team plans to boost sensitivity and roll out a larger sequel experiment, NILE QROCODILE. It's like leveling up from a solo mission to a full raid party in your favorite RPG – only this time, the boss is dark matter itself 👾.
From Bangalore to Bangkok, young science enthusiasts across South and Southeast Asia will be keeping an eye on this cosmic detective story. Stay tuned – big discoveries might be just around the corner!
Reference(s):
Researchers develop promising method to spot low-mass dark matter
cgtn.com
