Title: NIST’s SQUIDs Enable Dark Matter Search in Seattle
NIST has provided ultra-sensitive SQUID sensors to the Axion Dark Matter Experiment (ADMX) in Seattle, which is searching for dark matter particles called axions. These SQUIDs (superconducting quantum interference devices) are crucial for detecting the extremely faint microwave photons that would be produced when axions decay in a magnetic field.
The ADMX experiment operates by sweeping across a range of frequencies in a cold, magnetic cavity to find the precise frequency that would trigger axion decay. The resulting microwave photons must be measured with unprecedented sensitivity, which requires amplifiers with extremely low noise levels.
NIST’s SQUIDs have noise levels 100 times lower than conventional high electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs), allowing the experiment to potentially detect signals 10,000 times faster. This advanced technology is essential for making the search feasible within a reasonable timeframe.
The collaboration between NIST and the University of Washington’s ADMX team demonstrates the importance of specialized quantum sensors in advancing our understanding of dark matter and the universe’s composition.
Source: https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2016/02/shedding-light-dark-matter-squids
Keywords: SQUIDs, Quantum Mechanics, Noise, Dark Matter
