【新华社】我国科研团队首次直接观测到米格达尔效应 为轻暗物质探测迈出坚实的一步

Core Insights - The research team led by the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences has directly observed the Migdal effect for the first time, providing crucial support for breakthroughs in light dark matter detection [5][6] - The findings were published in the international academic journal "Nature" on January 15, marking a significant advancement in the field [5] Group 1: Migdal Effect - The Migdal effect, proposed by physicist Arkadi Migdal in 1939, describes how an atomic nucleus gaining energy can transfer some of that energy to its outer electrons, allowing them to escape [5] - For over 80 years, the existence of the Migdal effect in neutral particle collision processes remained unverified, leading to skepticism regarding dark matter detection experiments relying on this effect [5][6] Group 2: Technological Advancements - The research team developed a highly sensitive detection device combining a micro-structured gas detector with a pixel readout chip, functioning like a "camera" that captures the process of electron release during atomic motion [5][6] - The device successfully distinguished "Migdal events" from background interference such as gamma rays and cosmic rays, marking the first direct confirmation of the Migdal effect [6] Group 3: Collaborative Efforts and Future Directions - The project involved collaboration among several universities, including Guangxi University, which was responsible for core detector development, and others contributing to testing and validation [6] - The team plans to integrate the experimental results into the development of next-generation detectors in collaboration with dark matter detection teams, emphasizing the importance of dark matter in understanding the universe's origins and evolution [6]