Researchers Jin-Wei Wang and Fei-Fei Li from the Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, have published a study in the journal Physical Review Letters exploring a novel approach to detect dark matter using ancient minerals, or “paleo detectors.” Their work focuses on a type of dark matter known as cosmic-ray dark matter (CRDM) and its potential to revolutionize our understanding of this elusive substance.
Dark matter is a mysterious form of matter that does not emit, absorb, or reflect light, making it invisible to traditional detection methods. Despite its invisibility, scientists infer its presence through gravitational effects on visible matter. The nature of dark matter remains one of the most significant unsolved problems in physics and has profound implications for our understanding of the universe.
Wang and Li’s research introduces the concept of using paleo detectors—ancient minerals that have been exposed to cosmic rays over geological timescales—to search for CRDM. These minerals, with their extensive exposure times, offer a unique advantage in detecting the faint signals of dark matter. The researchers explain that CRDM particles, due to their high kinetic energies, create nuclear-recoil tracks in these minerals that are significantly longer than those produced by background noise from neutrinos and natural radioactivity.
The study highlights that paleo detectors can provide an ultra-large effective geological exposure, on the order of 100,000 ton-years. This substantial exposure enhances the sensitivity of these detectors to sub-GeV dark matter, which is a range of dark matter particle masses that has been challenging to probe with existing technologies. By analyzing the nuclear-recoil tracks, researchers can potentially identify the interactions between dark matter and protons, improving the sensitivity to the dark matter-proton scattering cross section by one to two orders of magnitude compared to current limits set by experiments like XENONnT.
The practical applications of this research for the energy sector are not immediately apparent, as the study is fundamentally focused on advancing our understanding of dark matter. However, the development of more sensitive detection methods could have broader implications for scientific research and technological innovation. For instance, a deeper understanding of dark matter could lead to new insights into the fundamental forces and particles that govern the universe, potentially inspiring new energy technologies or improving existing ones.
In summary, Wang and Li’s research represents a significant step forward in the search for dark matter. By leveraging the unique properties of paleo detectors, they have demonstrated the potential to enhance our sensitivity to sub-GeV dark matter, opening new avenues for exploration in this fascinating field. The study was published in the journal Physical Review Letters, a prestigious publication known for its rigorous peer-review process and high standards of scientific excellence.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.