Astrophysicist figured out how to look for axions with a haloscope

Nicolo Crescini, working at the Néel Institute, has developed a new method for searching for one type of dark matter,

axions, working in his former Italian laboratory. His method is based on searching for connections between axions and electrons, while most experiments are based on searching for connections with photons.

The methodology proposed by Kreschini includesplacing a sample of magnetic material in a very well controlled environment, at a temperature close to absolute zero, and monitoring it for anomalous changes in magnetization that may indicate axion activity. The system is a type of magnetometer known as a haloscope.

This experiment, called QUAX (short forQuaerere Axions, where quaerere is Latin for "to seek"), is not yet sensitive enough to detect axions. “It needs to be scaled up and used with more sensitive sensors,” says Crescini. “However, this study also has practical applications: we have patented a modified version that can be used as a commercial magnetometer.”

Axions are hypothetical particles thatwere introduced in the 1970s to fill a gap in the Standard Model of particle physics, namely the strong CP problem. “Studying axions is a good way to catch two birds with one stone — dark matter and a strong CP problem — with one shot, an axion,” says Crescini.

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