Quantum dark matter detection through the intersection of particle physics, chemistry and solid state physics

粒子理论小组（包括 PI Melia）负责理论计算，从数百种可能的选择中识别出非常适合暗物质探测的特定单分子磁体。我们确定了多种可能性，重要的是我们确定了一个作为能量阈值指标的关键参数。这个参数——一个决定最快磁弛豫时间的常数——在文献中对合成的单分子磁体有详细记录。因此，我们能够以十阶晶体为目标，选择合适的特性，使能量阈值处于滑动范围内，着眼于制造未来潜在的原型粒子探测器。化学组（包括 Co-I Fukui）负责单分子磁体的合成。该小组着眼于自旋弛豫时间选择单分子磁体，并合成了含有锰离子的单分子磁体。结果，成功制备了两种单分子磁体的单晶。凝聚态组（包括Co-I Mizukami）负责化学组合成的单分子磁体晶体的热容测量。他们已经获得了几种锰基化合物的单晶样品，并确定了磁场中比热的温度依赖性。

The particle theory group (including PI Melia) is responsible for the theoretical calculations that identify particular single molecule magnets out of the 100s of possible choices that would be well suited to dark matter detection. We identified a number of possibilities, and importantly we identified a key parameter that acts as an indicator for the energy threshold. This parameter - a constant that determines the fastest possible magnetic relaxation time - is well documented for the synthesized single molecule magnets in the literature. We therefore were able to target of order ten crystals, with the properties chosen so that the energy threshold would sit on a sliding scale, with an eye to making future potential prototype particle detectors.The chemistry group (including Co-I Fukui) is responsible for the synthesis of single molecule magnets. The group selected single-molecule magnets focusing on the spin relaxation time, and synthesized single-molecule magnets containing manganese ions. As a result, single crystals of two types of single-molecule magnets were successfully prepared.The condensed matter group (including Co-I Mizukami) is responsible for the heat capacity measurement on crystals of single molecule magnets synthesized by the chemistry group. They have been provided several single-crystalline samples of Mn-based compounds, and determined the temperature dependence of specific heat in magnetic fields.