Research Highlight | Center for Nanoscale Materials

Quantum sensing for dark matter detection

In a paper appearing in AVS Quantum Science, researchers discuss how recent developments in defect-based quantum sensing pave the way for directional detection of dark matter.
Quantum sensing for dark matter detection image
Overview of proposed dark matter detection procedure. (a) The preferred direction of incoming WIMP particles on the earth allows for directional discrimination. (b) WIMPs interact with the detector, leaving crystal damage tracks. (c) Triggered segments are removed from the detector. (d) The structure of crystal damage is mapped using superresolution optical methods or X-ray microscopy.

Scientific Achievement

This paper outlines the vision for a solid-state directional detector of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) that integrates real-time event registration, three-dimensional directional information and high-density target material.

Significance and Impact

Directional detectors improve sensitivity to WIMP dark matter and overcome the challenge of irreducible neutrino background. A future WIMP detector will leverage or motivate advances in multiple disciplines toward precision dark matter and neutrino physics.

Research Details

  • The detector operates in hybrid mode: nuclear recoil event registration is performed in real-time using charge, phonon or photon collection.
  • The solid-state detector using quantum defects in diamond would provide timing information and complete three-dimensional information via head/tail asymmetric signals.

Work performed in part at the Center for Nanoscale Materials and Advanced Photon Source, DOE Office of Science user facilities. 

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DOI: 10.1116/5.0117301

About Argonne’s Center for Nanoscale Materials

The Center for Nanoscale Materials is one of the five DOE Nanoscale Science Research Centers, premier national user facilities for interdisciplinary research at the nanoscale supported by the DOE Office of Science. Together the NSRCs comprise a suite of complementary facilities that provide researchers with state-of-the-art capabilities to fabricate, process, characterize and model nanoscale materials, and constitute the largest infrastructure investment of the National Nanotechnology Initiative. The NSRCs are located at DOE’s Argonne, Brookhaven, Lawrence Berkeley, Oak Ridge, Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories. For more information about the DOE NSRCs, please visit https://​sci​ence​.osti​.gov/​U​s​e​r​-​F​a​c​i​l​i​t​i​e​s​/​U​s​e​r​-​F​a​c​i​l​i​t​i​e​s​-​a​t​-​a​-​G​lance.

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