Dark Matter Searches using Quantum Enhanced Superfluid Technologies

暗物质的性质是当今基础物理学面临的最大问题之一。尽管进行了几十年的实验努力，但仍未发现任何物质，传统暗物质模型的可能性正在降低。为了探索新的理论驱动的模式，需要新的方法。作为Quest-DMC项目的一部分，该提案将开发一个利用量子技术搜索低质量暗物质的独特计划。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。该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大学超低温和天体粒子小组之间的一项新合作中进行。将生产不同类型的量子传感器，对其进行基准测试和优化，以确定它们是否适合暗物质搜索。通过改变超流氦-3的量子态，也可以实现对暗物质的定向探测。这使得测试一个可能的暗物质信号的星系起源成为可能。

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.