Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery that confirms the existence of axions, a leading dark matter candidate. The findings, published in Nature, use quasiparticles to hunt for axions, which are hypothesized to make up dark matter. The researchers utilized manganese bismuth telluride, a material with unique electronic and magnetic properties, to create a platform ideal for nurturing axion quasiparticles.
The team, led by Jian-Xiang Qiu from Harvard University, successfully coaxed the axion quasiparticles into revealing their dynamic nature in the highly controlled environment. They utilized sophisticated techniques, including ultrafast laser optics and innovative measurement tools, to capture movements of axion quasiparticles with precision.
This breakthrough opens new realms for harnessing quasiparticles to search for dark matter and develop new quantum technologies. The researchers believe that tuning into specific radio frequencies emitted by axion particles could help discover dark matter in 15 years.
Senior co-author Suyang Xu, assistant professor of chemistry, credits the findings as a major breakthrough in the study of axions. The discovery has far-reaching implications for particle physics and cosmology, with potential applications in novel optical applications and dark-matter detection.
The researchers plan to deepen their exploration of axion quasiparticles’ properties while refining experimental conditions for greater precision. This study was partially funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, and the National Science Foundation.
Source: https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2025/04/hunting-a-basic-building-block-of-universe