Levitated magnet opens new frontier in search for ultraheavy dark matter
Rice University researchers have used a magnetically levitated particle to search for ultraheavy dark matter, extending the hunt for some of the heaviest possible forms of the invisible matter thought to hold galaxies together. Led by Christopher Tunnell, associate professor of physics and astronomy, the researchers used a tiny floating magnet as a highly sensitive detector designed to register…
Researchers at Rice University have developed a magnetically levitated particle to search for ultraheavy dark matter, expanding the search for some of the heaviest possible forms of the invisible matter that holds galaxies together. Led by associate professor Christopher Tunnell, the team used a tiny floating magnet as a highly sensitive detector designed to register the faint push an ultraheavy dark matter particle could produce as it passed through.
Dark matter is crucial for the structure of the universe, influencing galaxy formation and stability, but its composition remains unknown. This research demonstrates how a floating magnet can broaden the search to include heavier dark matter candidates, which traditional experiments have not been able to reach.
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