Imagine tuning a radio, not for music, but for the faint whispers of dark matter. An international team of researchers has proposed a groundbreaking theory: dark matter might transmit a signal we can intercept.
This invisible substance, making up approximately 85% of the Universe's mass, has long been one of science's greatest enigmas. The key to this discovery lies in axions, hypothetical particles considered fundamental components of dark matter.
Researchers are developing a specialized detector to "listen" for axion frequencies. This device, likened to a "cosmic radio," will scan frequencies across the galaxy, seeking the elusive axion signal. According to David Marsh from King's College London, this detector is essentially a cosmic radio, tuning into the galaxy's frequencies until the axion is found.
The proposed technology involves a unique material that could generate axion-like quasiparticles (AQ). When these particles reach the axion's extremely high frequency, they may emit small amounts of light. This experiment aims to operate within a frequency range that other methods struggle to reach.
The team used bismuth-manganese telluride, a material with unique magnetic and electronic properties, to build a proof of concept. Jian-Xiang Qiu from Harvard University stated that the material had to be exfoliated to a few atomic layers to precisely tune its properties. After six years of material development, the team observed its interaction with quantum entities like the axion.
While a functional detector is estimated to take around five years to build, refining the search location could take another decade. Despite the challenges, the potential to revolutionize cosmology and fundamentally alter our understanding of the Universe is immense.