量子“捕手”为暗物质探测提供全新路径

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][3] - Dark matter, which constitutes approximately 26.8% of the universe, interacts through gravity but not electromagnetically, making it challenging to detect [1] - The team has established a distributed detection network using five ultra-sensitive quantum sensors, achieving detection precision that surpasses astronomical observations by 40 times in certain mass ranges of axions, a leading candidate for dark matter [3] Group 1 - The quantum sensors are equipped with advanced features that allow for the storage of fleeting signals in a nuclear spin coherence state for nearly a minute, greatly extending the detection window [1] - The team has developed a self-research quantum amplification technology that enhances weak signals by a factor of 100, making it easier to detect subtle interactions [1] - The breakthrough adds a new, more precise tool to humanity's arsenal for searching for dark matter, with potential future enhancements in sensitivity through global networking and space deployment [3] Group 2 - The sensors are deployed in Hefei and Hangzhou, synchronized via satellite for precise timing, forming a distributed detection network [3] - After two months of continuous observation, the team has provided the strictest constraints on dark matter models across a wide range of axion masses [3] - Future collaborations with gravitational wave observatories could further increase detection sensitivity by four orders of magnitude [3]