Project description
Quantum sensing platform could detect dark matter axions
More than 25 % of the universe consists of dark matter. Unlike normal matter, it does not interact with the electromagnetic force, so it does not absorb or reflect light, making it very difficult to study. The composition of dark matter is one of the most important questions in cosmology. One compelling hypothesis is that it is composed of very light and weakly interacting axions, predicted to produce axion haloscopes in terrestrial experiments. The ERC-funded DarkQuantum project aims to develop a quantum-enhanced setup for particle physics environments that leverages quantum sensing technologies to extend the ranges of axion mass that can be investigated. It could enable the first experimental detection of axions.
Objective
The unresolved nature of the Dark Matter permeating our Universe is one of the most pressing questions of modern science. It is connected to our very understanding of reality at the most fundamental level. The axion DM paradigm has recently emerged as one of the most compelling hypothesis to solve this question: Dark Matter would be composed by very light and very feebly interacting axions. This
paradigm is strongly motivated by theory, and predicts a clear signal in terrestrial experiments called axion haloscopes.
Pioneering experiments have reached enough sensitivity to test some realistic axion models in limited mass ranges, so far without a positive signal. However, there is still a large viable axion parameter space to be explored. The methods used to date will be inefficient to perform such a challenging task. Here our DarkQuantum consortium proposes a new way of addressing this gap using quantum sensing
technologies and hybrid quantum systems.
Specifically, we will combine quantum technologies and well established particle physics environments at CERN or DESY devoted to the detection of axions in the galactic halo. Building quantum-enhanced setups in particle physics environments is extremely challenging and needs expertise from very different fields of physics. Our consortium brings together experts from quantum circuits, very-low temperature
cryogenics, quantum measurements and particle physics, to build two quantum-enhanced haloscopes with unprecedented sensitivity and mass scanning range. The novel sensing strategies of the DarkQuantum project could lead to the experimental detection of axions for the first time. Such a fundamental discovery in connection with the long-standing DM problem would lead to a breakthrough in Physics
Fields of science
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
Keywords
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Topic(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-ERC-SYG - HORIZON ERC Synergy GrantsHost institution
50009 Zaragoza
Spain