What's Happening?
Physicists have proposed a new method to detect dark matter particles, known as axions, using fusion reactors. This breakthrough comes from a team led by Jure Zupan from the University of Cincinnati, in collaboration
with researchers from Fermi National Laboratory, MIT, and Technion–Israel Institute of Technology. The team suggests that axions could be produced inside a nuclear reactor through interactions between neutrons and materials like lithium lining the reactor vessel. This process could generate a detectable flux of axions, providing a new avenue for probing these elusive particles. The study, published in the Journal of High Energy Physics, highlights the potential of fusion reactors to advance our understanding of dark matter.
Why It's Important?
Dark matter is believed to make up about 84% of the universe's matter, yet it remains one of the most mysterious components of the cosmos. Detecting axions could provide critical insights into the nature of dark matter and its role in the universe. The proposed method using fusion reactors represents a significant advancement in experimental physics, offering a practical approach to studying dark matter particles. This research could pave the way for new technologies and methodologies in particle physics, enhancing our understanding of fundamental forces and the universe's composition. The findings also underscore the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in tackling complex scientific challenges.
