Dark matter is one of the universe's greatest mysteries, an invisible substance that neither emits nor absorbs light, making up about 85% of all matter yet evading every conventional telescope.
Now, an international collaboration between the University of Zurich, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and MIT is turning to quantum cryogenic technology to chase low-mass dark matter particles in a new experiment called QROCODILE (Quantum Resolution-Optimized Cryogenic Observatory for Dark matter Incident at Low Energy).
QROCODILE employs superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors cooled to just 0.1 kelvin above absolute zero. In this extreme state, electrons pair up into Cooper pairs with minimal energy. A tiny energy kick, like that from a passing dark matter particle, can break these pairs, creating a measurable electrical pulse.
During a 400-hour test run, the team demonstrated record-low energy thresholds, setting new experimental limits on how light dark matter particles could interact. The early-stage prototype proved the concept's viability but has not yet been used in a full dark matter search.
Looking ahead, researchers plan to boost sensitivity by moving the experiment underground to reduce background noise and scaling up next-generation detectors in a follow-up called NILE QROCODILE.
By marrying quantum physics with astrophysics, QROCODILE marks a significant step toward unmasking the universe's hidden mass and inspiring the next generation of innovators, explorers, and global citizens.
Reference(s):
Researchers develop promising method to spot low-mass dark matter
cgtn.com
