Speaker
Description
The true nature of Dark matter (DM), a fundamentally new form of matter that contributes five times more to the energy density of the Universe than ordinary matter, remains one of the most profound open questions in fundamental physics. In recent years, new theoretical developments have motivated the search for DM particles in the sub-GeV mass ranges. Exploring the low-energy regime requires innovative techniques in mid-infrared beyond the state-of-the-art of quantum sensors.
Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) offer a unique and timely solution unavailable by other techniques. Advances in SNSPD fabrication, large-area arrays, and multiplexed readout have now matured to a point where world-leading sensitivity can be realized. Furthermore, ongoing improvements in cryogenic techniques, readout electronics, and signal reconstruction directly enable scaling toward kilogram-scale target volumes. Immediate investment in SNSPD-based sub-eV dark matter searches will break current experimental limits, demonstrate the transformative potential of quantum sensing, and secure a leadership position in a rapidly emerging field.
In this talk, I will provide an overview of the development of SNSPD-based dark matter searches, highlighting the underlying detection concepts and the experimental approaches being pursued to probe the dark matter. I will discuss the advantages and challenges of employing SNSPDs as quantum sensors for rare-event detection and review recent progress in the field. Finally, I will present the outlook for upcoming underground experiments that aim to exploit the ultra-low-background environment to significantly enhance the sensitivity of SNSPD-based dark matter searches.
| Primary Abstract Topic | Experiment: Axions and Wave-Like-DM |
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