Dark Matter: Researchers propose repurposing tabletop sensors

Scientists believe in the existence of dark matter. However, after more than 50 years of searching, they still have no direct evidence to prove this mysterious substance. Swati Singh leads in Delaware University is one of a small group of researchers in the dark matter world who want to know if they are looking for the right dark matter. “What will happen if dark matter is much brighter than expected in conventional particle physics experiments?” said Singh, who is an assistant professor of electrical computer engineering at UD.

Singh explained that when you add up all luminous objects (such as stars, planets, and interstellar gas), they account for only 15% of the universe’s matter. The remaining 85% is called dark matter. It does not emit light, but researchers know that its existence is due to its gravitational force. They also know that there are unusual things such as gas, dust, stars, planets and us.

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One possibility is also there that dark matter is composed of dark photons. Dark matter is a kind of dark matter that exerts a weak oscillating force on normal matter and causes particles to move back and forth. However, because dark matter is ubiquitous, it exerts this force on any object, making this movement difficult to measure. Singh and his colleagues believe that by using optomechanical accelerometers as sensors to detect and amplify this swing, they can overcome this obstacle.

The researchers proposed an experiment that used a silicon nitride film and a solid-state beryllium mirror to reflect light between two surfaces. When the distance between the two materials changes, the researchers learned from the reflected light that there are dark photons. Because silicon nitride and beryllium definitely have different material properties.

The researchers have now proposed an experiment that uses a silicon nitride film and a solid-state beryllium mirror to reflect light between two surfaces. When the distance between the two materials is changed, researchers can find out from the reflected light that there are dark photons, because silicon nitride and beryllium have different material properties.

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