量子“捕手”为寻找宇宙“隐形邻居”提供新工具

Core Insights - The research team from the University of Science and Technology of China has developed the world's first quantum sensing network based on atomic nuclear spins, significantly enhancing the sensitivity for dark matter detection [1][2] - Dark matter constitutes approximately 26.8% of the universe's total mass, yet it does not emit light or interact electromagnetically with ordinary matter, making it a critical component of the universe [1] - The research introduces a new method for detecting axions, a leading candidate for dark matter, by capturing fleeting signals that occur when the Earth passes through a "dark matter wall" [1] Group 1 - The team has equipped quantum sensors with two key technologies: storing transient signals in nuclear spin coherence states for nearly a minute, and enhancing weak signals by a factor of 100 [2] - A distributed detection network was established by deploying five ultra-sensitive quantum sensors in Hefei and Hangzhou, synchronized via satellite, allowing for multi-site comparison and verification of cosmic signals [2] - Although the team did not capture a definitive signal of the "dark matter wall," they established the most stringent limits on the axion mass range, surpassing astronomical observations by a factor of 40 in certain mass intervals [2] Group 2 - This breakthrough adds a more precise "quantum tool" to humanity's arsenal for dark matter detection, paving the way for new pathways in exploring dark matter [2] - The networked and distributed detection approach could potentially collaborate with gravitational wave observatories to uncover more cosmic mysteries in the future [2] - Future plans include expanding the "quantum detection network" globally and deploying it in space to further enhance dark matter detection sensitivity [3]