Dark Matter Searches using Quantum Enhanced Superfluid Technologies

使用量子增强超流体技术搜索暗物质

• 批准号: EP/W028417/2
• 负责人: Elizabeth Leason
• 金额: $ 81.29万
• 依托单位: University of Oxford
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Fellowship
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2023 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FW028417%2F2
• 关键词: Dark; Matter; Searches; using; Quantum

The nature of dark matter is one of the biggest problems facing fundamental physics today. Despite several decades of experimental effort no detection has been made and the possibilities for conventional dark matter models are decreasing. In order to explore new theoretically motivated models new approaches are needed. This proposal will develop a unique programme utilising quantum technology to search for low mass dark matter, as part of the QUEST-DMC project.The QUEST-DMC project combines a macroscopic quantum system, superfluid helium-3, with state-of-the art quantum technologies. The target will be instrumented with quantum devices, giving high sensitivity to dark matter interactions. Quantum sensor development will be carried out in a new collaboration between the Ultra-Low Temperature and Astroparticle groups at Royal Holloway, University of London. Different types of quantum sensors will be produced, benchmarked and optimised in order to determine their suitability for a dark matter search. Directional detection of dark matter may also be achieved by altering the quantum state of the superfluid helium-3. This allows a test of the galactic origin of a possible dark matter signal.

暗物质的性质是当今基础物理学面临的最大问题之一。尽管经过几十年的实验努力，仍然没有探测到暗物质，传统暗物质模型的可能性正在下降。为了探索新的理论模型，需要新的方法。该计划将开发一个独特的计划，利用量子技术来寻找低质量的暗物质，作为QUEST-DMC项目的一部分。QUEST-DMC项目将宏观量子系统，超流氦-3与最先进的量子技术相结合。目标将配备量子设备，对暗物质相互作用具有高灵敏度。量子传感器的开发将在伦敦大学皇家霍洛威的超低温和天体粒子小组之间进行新的合作。不同类型的量子传感器将被生产，基准测试和优化，以确定它们是否适合暗物质搜索。暗物质的定向探测也可以通过改变超流氦-3的量子态来实现。这允许测试可能的暗物质信号的银河起源。