Researchers at the University of Tokyo and Chuo University have proposed a strategy to identify light dark matter using a network of distributed quantum sensors.
This development suggests that systems relying on quantum mechanical effects can be used to detect the weak signals associated with sub-GeV particles.
This strategy allows physicists to track both the velocity and the arrival direction of dark matter, providing a new approach for high-energy physics research.
“Our method does not require specific experimental setups and can be applied to any type of dark matter detector as long as the data from the detectors can be taken quantum mechanically,” said the researchers in a new study.
Requiring different detection methods
Dark matter is a type of matter that does not emit, absorb, or reflect light, making it impossible to detect using conventional technologies.
While its presence is inferred through its gravitational effects on galaxies, its exact composition remains unverified.
One theory suggests that dark matter may consist of light particles with masses below 1 eV, which behave more like waves than distinct particles.
These characteristics require different detection methods than those used for heavier dark matter candidates.
Limitations of current methods
The research team aimed to combine quantum engineering with particle physics to improve existing search protocols.
“We propose a measurement protocol to extract this information from the sensors using quantum states,” added the researchers.
In experiments designed to detect heavy dark matter, scientists typically look for small vibrations or signals produced when particles collide with atoms or nuclei in a detector.
Hajime Fukuda, first author of the paper, told Phys.org that while measuring velocity is possible for heavy particles, it is difficult for light dark matter because researchers generally use the excitation of discrete modes, which does not show velocity.
Implementing spatially extended detectors
“We found that we can measure the velocity of light dark matter not by measuring spatially extended signals (recoil tracks) but by measuring by spatially extended detectors,” explained Fukuda.
The introduced strategy uses a quantum measurement protocol across several dark matter detectors. Rather than searching for spatially extended signals or recoil tracks, the researchers found they could measure velocity by using spatially extended detectors.
The data collected from these sensors is treated as quantum sensor data, which allows researchers to extract information about the movement of dark matter.
Advantages and future applications
This method has certain characteristics that distinguish it from previous experimental designs. It is more general because it does not depend on the detailed type of particle interaction, unlike earlier methods that relied on elongated detectors or classical arrays.
Additionally, the analytical assessments performed by the team indicate that the sensitivity of this quantum array approach is higher than classical alternatives.
The researchers believe this approach can be refined for application in experiments. It may also lead other physicists to explore quantum sensing for the study of various particles.
“In our next studies, we could also improve our method and try to measure not only the velocity but also the dark matter distribution by the sensor array,” concluded Fukuda.