Scientists from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory's COHERENT team have taken a unique approach in the hunt for dark matter by attempting to observe it using neutrino detectors.
Dark matter is the mysterious substance that makes up 85% of the universe's mass, and it remains one of the biggest puzzles in modern astrophysics.
Detecting Dark Matter
SciTechDaily reports that the team set up their experiment in Neutrino Alley, an area beneath the powerful particle accelerator SNS, in Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
The area is usually used to study neutrinos, subatomic particles produced as by-products of proton collisions in particle accelerators. However, dark matter is also created when protons collide, making Neutrino Alley the perfect location for the experiment.
The team attempted to detect dark matter particles by capitalizing on SNS's power and their neutrino detectors' sensitivity. Even though they did not detect any dark matter particles, the experiment was successful in refining their theoretical models of what dark matter looks like.
Since they do not interact with light or electromagnetic waves, the naked eye cannot see dark matter particles. Instead, they are detected indirectly by observing their effects on other particles. This indirect detection makes the hunt for dark matter challenging, and any information about dark matter is valuable.
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New Possibilities for Dark Matter
Jason Newby, group leader for neutrino research at Oak Ridge National Lab and a co-author of the study, emphasizes the importance of the COHERENT team's experiment. It extended the worldwide search for dark matter in a new way, allowing them to rule out a number of possibilities and focus on new areas with strategy.
The COHERENT team's experiment also looked at the possibility that dark matter particles move slowly through the air, making it hard to find them with standard detection technology. By extending the search to other areas, the team has provided valuable information to help scientists focus on new areas with a better strategy.
The hunt for dark matter is crucial to understanding the universe's formation and evolution. Scientists have known for almost a century that the universe must contain more than just visible matter. Dark matter is subject to gravity, but it does not interact with any sort of light or electromagnetic wave, making it challenging to detect.
The COHERENT team's unique method of using neutrino detectors to find dark matter is a big step forward in the search for this elusive substance. The team's expertise in particle physics, combined with the power of SNS and the sensitivity of their detectors, has allowed them to refine their theoretical models of what dark matter looks like. This information will be essential in furthering our understanding of the universe.
In the future, the team plans to receive a larger and more sensitive detector to increase their chances of detecting dark matter particles. As they continue their search, the COHERENT team will undoubtedly play a crucial role in unraveling the mysteries of the universe.
